The Strings Club - Brockley Holiday Camp

Inspection of The Strings Club - Brockley Holiday Camp Prendergast School, Adelaide Avenue, London SE4 1LE

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This provision does not meet requirements

Children particularly enjoy learning how to play a variety of musical string instruments, such as guitar, ukulele and violin. Highly qualified, enthusiastic and keen staff help children to recognise different parts of a guitar. Children eagerly use new words, such as 'sound whole' and 'tuning pegs'. They begin to read music and learn valuable techniques, such as strumming a guitar with their fingers. Children keenly listen and follow instruction, and they behave very well.

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This provision does not meet requirements

Despite children appearing safe and very happy, their overall safety and well-being are compromised. This is because there are inconsistencies in the manager and staff's knowledge of how to keep children safe. For instance, the correct local procedures to follow for reporting a concern about a child's welfare. Saying this, they all know who to raise their concerns to within the organisation. Staff know how to identify and address instances of extreme views and beliefs. However, the manager has limited knowledge regarding the 'Prevent' duty. Leaders have not ensured a current paediatric first-aider is on the premises at all times; this is a breach of requirements. The manager lacks sufficient knowledge of these requirements. However, the provider acts swiftly after the concern was raised to ensure a paediatric first-aid trained agency staff is available, until the manager completes her paediatric first-aid training to maintain children's safety.

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need to do better?

n The provider does not make sure the training and monitoring of staff, in particular the manager is effective. Weaknesses in staff training and supervision arrangements mean that gaps in staff's safeguarding knowledge are not identified or acted on swiftly enough to ensure the ongoing safety of all children. n The premises are secure and daily checks are completed in all areas used by the holiday club, to identify and remove potential hazards to children. However, staff and children's confidential information is occasionally left unattended. This means records are accessible and available to those who do not have a right or professional need to see them. This is a breach of requirements. n The provider successfully plans music workshops to enhance children's music skills and enjoyment. Workshops for the youngest children are based on the importance of play, child-initiated learning, the adult's role and the environment

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need to do better?

to help meet their needs. Younger children enthusiastically learn to correctly 'strum' strings and how to take care of a ukulele. They very quickly remember to lay instruments in a 'resting position'. n When young children first arrive, the sensitive and caring key-person quickly responds to children who are upset. For example, the key-person quickly finds a 'buddy' to help children settle quickly. All staff are caring, enthusiastic and

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need to do better?

17 February 2020 supportive. They engage superbly with children to support the mixed ages of children and to ensure they have lots of fun. Children thoroughly enjoy the company of staff. For instance, older children concentrate as they play board games with staff and younger children enjoy listening to stories. n The environment is organised well to promote children's confidence and independence. They engage in activities they choose for themselves. Children benefit from time outdoors to promote their good health and physical exercise. They skilfully play ball games and have lots of fun together. Children's creativity and imagination are promoted well. For example, children enthusiastically make capes from fabric and pretend to be superheroes. They skilfully use a range of tools to create detailed pretend pizzas from dough. n Children behave well and eagerly talk about the golden rules during circle time,

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need to do better?

to help them learn how to keep themselves safe. Older, more experienced children keenly help younger children to correctly hold a ukulele and move their fingers for a down strum to every beat. n The provider seeks and values the views of parents and staff. For instance, staff record their thoughts and ideas in self-reflection diaries, and after a music concert, parents are encouraged to complete parent questionnaires, to seek their views and comments. However, overall the effectiveness of self-evaluation is weak. The provider and manager do not have a secure and accurate view of what needs to improve to meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements to help keep children safe and from harm.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have not ensured there is a current paediatric first-aid trained member of staff on the premises at all times. Leaders do not monitor the managers and staff's safeguarding and wider safeguarding knowledge to help identified weaknesses in some staff's knowledge. The leader has not taken effective steps to ensure that all staff are adequately trained to report their concerns to local safeguarding agencies. Although, staff have sufficient knowledge of who to raise their concerns about a child within the organisation. They are aware of possible signs and symptoms that may show a child is at risk of abuse. Leaders successfully follow safe recruitment procedures and ensure that staff suitability is checked to work with children. Occasionally, the manager does not securely store staff and children's confidential information from those who do not have the professional need to see them. This is a breach of the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

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Due date

17 February 2020 ensure that all staff are trained to understand safeguarding procedures, including the correct local agencies to contact if they have a safeguarding concern, and that the manager has sufficient understanding of the 'Prevent' duty guidance for England and Wales 19/02/2021

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Due date

ensure at least one member of staff who has a current paediatric first-aid certificate is on the premises at all times 19/02/2021

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Due date

review and improve the current systems for the storage of confidential information. 19/02/2021

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544874 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 10093484 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Out-of-school day care Age range of children 4 to 11 Total number of places 41 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person The Strings Club Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 296 9204 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Strings Club, Brockley Holiday Camp registered in 2017. The club is based in Prendergast School in the London Borough of Lewisham. The club operates, 8am to 6pm, during school holidays only. There are five members of staff, of whom four have a teacher qualification.

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Inspection activities

n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and leader to evaluate the quality of interactions between staff and children, environment, activities and experiences. n The inspector and leader completed a learning walk across all areas of the provision to understand how the manager and staff organise the environment. n A meeting was held between the inspector and leaders to discuss arrangements for self-evaluation, safe-recruitment and staff suitability. n The inspector spoke to staff and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n A range of documentation was viewed by the inspector, including public liability insurance, the safeguarding policy and procedures, and paediatric first-aid qualification.

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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

17 February 2020 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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