Mega Camps Brentwood

Inspection of Mega Camps Brentwood The Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood CM15 9NN

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This provision does not meet requirements

Children do not benefit from an effective key-person system that consistently meets their individual needs. All younger children at the club are allocated to one key group. As a result, children are not provided with the best possible way to build a close relationship and settle as quickly as possible. Despite this, children appear happy and enjoy being there. Before children start, specific information is gathered from parents, for example about their children's needs for medication, food allergies or dietary requirements. However, senior staff fail to ensure that information is consistently kept up to date and shared with all members of staff working with those children. Consequently, this compromises children's safety and well-being.

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This provision does not meet requirements

Children behave well. They are polite and confident. For example, children are keen to tell the inspector about the 'laser tag' activity they enjoyed the previous day. Children learn the fire evacuation procedure to help keep themselves safe. They understand that when a member of staff blows a whistle, they must stop and listen to their instruction. Children benefit from a range of age-appropriate indoor and outdoor activities and join in confidently. They have regular opportunities to help to develop their physical skills. For example, children enjoy go-karting and large group games. Children can participate in variety of art activities. This supports their creative skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff supervision sessions take place. However, the provider has not ensured that the current system is effective to support staff to have clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This is with particular regard to the manager and senior staff members. For example, they do not recognise their responsibility to routinely share relevant information about children's individual needs with all other members of staff working with children. In addition, supervision sessions for all staff are not used effectively to consistently raise the standard of practice to benefit children. n The manager does not understand her responsibility to consistently share appropriate information with other staff. For example, when early years children move away from the area to join in with the older group activities, the manager does not routinely inform staff working with those children. As a consequence, staff are not always aware of where the children in their group are at all times.

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need to do better?

This compromises children's safety and welfare. n During the inspection, some children's names were not known by all members of staff. This does not support children effectively to develop positive relationships and become familiar with the setting. In addition, it does not help to support

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need to do better?

18 February 2020 children's confidence and self-esteem. n Staff gather information from parents about children's interests and individual needs before they start at the club. However, poor key-group practice means that staff do not always review this information before children attend the club. This does not help to ensure that every child's care is tailored to meet their individual needs. n Children wear coloured wristbands to identify that they have a medical need or allergy. However, senior staff do not understand their responsibility to share the details of this information with other staff in the team. Consequently, as children sit together for lunch and snack times, staff are not always aware of children's individual needs, specific allergies or dietary requirements. As a result, they are not able to protect children's health and well-being effectively. n Children are confident to engage in conversations with staff. Staff listen and

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need to do better?

respond appropriately to what children are saying. Children are encouraged to be independent as they unpack their own packed lunches and drinks. The club's website provides information to parents about what to provide for healthy packed lunches. n The provider is keen to raise the quality of the provision. However, the management team has not implemented rigorous self-evaluation systems to help identify key weaknesses or breaches in requirements.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Some staff do not clearly understand their roles and responsibilities to help ensure the safety and well-being of the children in their care. Despite this, staff are aware of the possible signs that might indicate children are at risk of harm. They have knowledge of wider safeguarding issues such as radicalisation. The staff know how to report any concerns they may have about children in their care. Staff have all attended safeguarding training. The provider understands the procedures to deal appropriately with allegations or concerns about those working with children.

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Due date

18 February 2020 ensure that staff supervision sessions are effective in making sure that all staff have the appropriate skills and knowledge and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, with particular regard to the manager and senior staff 24/03/2020

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Due date

review the key-person system to ensure that every child's care is tailored to meet their individual needs, and that staff build close relationships to help children become familiar with the club and settle in the environment as quickly as possible. 24/03/2020

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550174 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10133680 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 14 Total number of places 100 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person Mega Camps Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07876343914 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Mega Camps Brentwood registered in 2017 and is one of a chain of privately run holiday schemes. The setting is open each weekday from 8am until 6pm during the school holidays. It employs six members of early years staff. Of these, two hold qualifications at level 3, one holds level 5 and two hold qualified teacher status.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children inside and outside. n The inspector held discussions with the children, staff and management team as appropriate throughout the inspection. n The inspector checked a sample of documentation, including evidence of staff suitability and training. n The provider and the inspector observed a joint activity and evaluated it together afterwards. n The inspector looked at the areas of the environment used by children and discussed the planned activities and play experiences provided.

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Inspection activities

18 February 2020 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

18 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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