Kings Heath Playcare

Inspection of Kings Heath Playcare Kings Heath Primary School, Valentine Road, Birmingham, West Midlands B14 7AJ

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This provision does not meet requirements

The management committee, who are responsible for running the provision, do not have a sound enough understanding of their key roles and they are not all suitably vetted. Staff are lacking confidence and their safeguarding knowledge is not secure. Overall, they do not have a clear understanding of all their responsibilities to help meet all legal requirements and maintain high standards. That said, managers complete risk assessments of all areas in use. Staff conduct daily opening checks to ensure the resources and equipment are still suitable. However, staff do not always supervise children as carefully as possible. Children move freely between the areas in use, including accessing the cloakroom and toilet, which due to their location is not appropriate. This does not help to keep them fully safe. That said, children are settled and happy to attend. They greet staff warmly and are keen to talk to them. However, on entry to the club, children are kept waiting

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This provision does not meet requirements

around for unnecessarily long periods of time as staff do not confidently carry out the playscheme routine or set up play activities quickly enough. Nevertheless, during the session, some children enjoy playing with small-world play characters and a castle, role play in the home corner and decorating Christmas bookmarks, making picture frames and colouring or painting Autumn pictures. However, there are also occasions when activities are too formal or lengthy, such as whole-group sessions to talk about the behaviour expectations or story time. Therefore, children struggle to pay attention and keep focus. Furthermore, on occasion, staff only provide access to limited activities and therefore, those not wanting to join in struggle to choose something to do. Overall, staff do not fully help children make the most of the time they spend in the playscheme.

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need to do better?

n The management committee of the playscheme do not fully understand their key roles. They have failed to notify Ofsted of new committee members and provide them with all the information they require to complete appropriate vetting checks in a timely way. n Staff knowledge of child protection issues and wider safeguarding concerns, including the 'Prevent' duty is not strong enough. This does not help to keep children fully protected from different types of harm. n Children are not always supervised well when accessing certain areas. The cloakroom and bathroom is located out of sight and hearing of the main playscheme rooms. Staff sometimes send children off on their own to put things in their bags or use the toilet, which does not fully promote their welfare at all times. n Managers observe staff's practice, conduct formal one-to-one supervisions and informal welfare meetings with them on a regular basis. However, they do not

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need to do better?

20 November 2019 make the most effective use of these processes to ensure staff have all the knowledge and skills they require to fulfil their roles. n Staff deployment is not always effective. Due to staffing rota systems, allocated key persons do not get to spend enough quality time with their key children. Therefore, they do not get to know them as well as possible to help them build the most positive relationships with them and their families. n Children's physical well-being is promoted in some ways. Staff find out about children's individual care needs and ensure these are met. They are rigorous in promoting hygiene and teach children about washing their hands properly. Children are independent and can manage their self-care needs with minimal support, such as putting away their belongings when they initially arrive. Staff also offer children a menu of diverse and nutritional foods. They talk about the

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need to do better?

benefits of eating well and encourage them to try new things. Children talk about their likes as they tuck into naan breads and curry sauce for snack. n Staff do not continually ensure that the activities and experiences provided are tailored towards promoting children's interests and where appropriate supporting their individual needs. Therefore, there is room to broaden them to help children make the most of the time they spend in the playscheme. n The playscheme is very inclusive. Staff help children to explore diversity and they ensure any children with additional needs benefit from targeted support. Overall, staff manage behaviour in a suitable way. Children chat socially to their peers, they invent their own entertainment when they are not motivated by what has been provided and are happy to play collaboratively with others. n Partnerships with parents, the host nursery and school and relevant external

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need to do better?

professionals are established. Staff share basic two-way information about children's care, development and any specific needs. Parents comment that they are happy with the service provided. n Self-evaluation is in place. Managers who run the setting day-to-day are passionate and ambitious. They recognise that there are weaknesses in practice that need to be addressed and they aspire to improve.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Not all those acting on the playscheme management committee are known to Ofsted. This means they are not fully vetted for their roles. That said, managers who run the provision day-to-day and all staff are suitably vetted. The environment is secure, and during drop and collection times, the playscheme entrance door is always manned. However, children are not always supervised well in all areas within the playscheme. Managers are trained in the lead safeguarding roles and they have a clear understanding of their responsibility to identify and manage child protection concerns. However, despite routine safeguarding training, staff knowledge in this area is lacking and they cannot confidently explain the playscheme child protection procedures.

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Due date

gain full understanding of the key management roles and provide Ofsted with all the information they require about new committee members to complete appropriate vetting checks in a timely way 06/12/2019

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Due date

improve staff knowledge of child protection issues and wider safeguarding concerns, including the 'Prevent' duty 06/12/2019

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Due date

ensure that children are always supervised, specifically when accessing the cloakroom and bathroom as these are located out of sight and hearing of the main playscheme rooms 06/12/2019

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Due date

make more effective use of staff supervision and professional development systems to improve staff confidence and ensure that they have a clear understanding of all of their responsibilities 20/12/2019

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Due date

review staff deployment to ensure that key persons spend quality time with their key children, so they can build positive relationships with them and their families 20/12/2019

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Due date

broaden the activities and experiences provided and ensure they are tailored to promote children's interests and where appropriate support their individual needs to help them make the most of the time they spend in the playscheme. 20/12/2019

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Setting details

Unique reference number 509432 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10131464 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Out-of-school day care Age range of children 3 to 11 Total number of places 65 Number of children on roll 170 Name of registered person Kings Heath Playcare

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 444 5826 Date of previous inspection 29 May 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Kings Heath Playcare registered in 1995. The playscheme employs 18 members of staff. Of these, 11 holds relevant childcare qualifications at level 2 or 3. The playscheme operates all year round from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 7.45am to 9am and 3.15pm to 6pm. The playscheme also operates from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, during school holidays, with the exception of the Christmas period.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of staff's interactions with the children during activities indoors. n The inspector spoke to the staff. She also held a meeting with the playscheme manager and deputy manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, records and policies. She also checked evidence of the suitability of the committee members and all managers and staff working in the playscheme. n The inspector spoke to children and parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

20 November 2019 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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