The Cubit Street Play Centre

Inspection of The Cubit Street Play Centre 3 Cubitt Street, London WC1X 0LJ

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This provision meets requirements

Staff foster a calm, organised and welcoming environment, where children feel happy and settled. Children enjoy spending time with staff and their peers. Staff build strong, positive relationships with children, offering plenty of praise and showing a genuine interest in their play. As a result, children display confidence and feel safe and secure.

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This provision meets requirements

Staff create a supportive environment that allows children the time and space to thrive. Staff ensure that they safely escort children from the minibus into the centre. Children demonstrate a sense of security by quickly settling into their chosen activities. Staff expertly adjust their approach to meet each child's individual needs, offering support with tasks, such as washing their hands before snack time. Children have access to a wide variety of creative resources that encourage self-expression, curiosity and creativity, such as musical instruments.

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This provision meets requirements

Children who attend the provision come from diverse backgrounds. Staff plan activities to help children to develop positive attitudes, respect and understanding of different cultures and beliefs. They ensure that children feel valued, for example, by learning to greet children in their home languages. This helps to foster a strong sense of belonging. Additionally, staff incorporate cultural and religious events through community trips, such as visits to China Town, inviting faith leaders and hosting activities with local police officers.

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need to do better?

n Staff encourage children to practise hygiene and self-care by washing their hands before snack time. They provide children with a selection of healthy food options to choose from. Snack time is a peaceful and quiet moment, with staff demonstrating exemplary behaviours. After finishing, staff encourage children to scrape their plates and clean up, to help them to build important life skills. n Staff encourage children to use a picture exchange system to communicate and express their needs effectively. For example, children use pictures to request the resources they need for activities, which helps to strengthen their language and communication skills. n Partnership with parents and carers is strong. Parents praise staff for their invaluable support in meeting their children's individual health and care needs. They also express satisfaction with the communication they receive regarding their children's care and experiences at the centre.

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need to do better?

n Staff offer children opportunities to self-regulate effectively. Children enjoy unwinding in the cosy library, where they explore a variety of books and play board games. Additionally, they benefit from access to sensory panels, which

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need to do better?

12 December 2024 help them to feel calm and relaxed. n Staff engage children in creating themed zones, such as a Santa's grotto. They provide opportunities for children to make decorations using various creative materials to adorn the Christmas tree. This involvement helps children to feel valued and fosters a sense of belonging. n Leaders are committed to continually improving the provision. They regularly assess its effectiveness and consider feedback from children, parents and staff in the evaluation process. n Children benefit from a range of physical development activities in the spacious outdoor area, where they can practise and improve their fine and gross motor skills, including basketball, football training and riding scooters and bicycles. n Leaders collaborate with school staff to ensure consistency in managing individual children's care plans. They also work with external professionals to provide effective support for children attending their provision.

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need to do better?

n Safeguarding procedures are thorough and ensure the safety of all children. Staff conduct health and safety checks of the building, as well as risk assessments for indoor and outdoor areas, activities, trips, resources and, in some cases, children based on their needs. This ensures that the provision is safe and suitable for everyone. n Staff feel well supported and have a strong understanding of safeguarding procedures and how to report concerns. They also have access to helpful posters for guidance. Staff appreciate the opportunities leaders provide to further develop their practice, such as accessing additional training. This enables staff to meet the specific needs of children effectively. n Staff encourage children to develop healthy habits, such as by providing nutritious snacks and offering plenty of physical activities. These include a monthly football club with professional training, obstacle courses and races.

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need to do better?

These activities also help children to develop social skills, such as turn taking. n Staff development is effective, enabling staff to improve their professional practice. Leaders regularly assess staff's individual development and provide additional training, coaching and mentoring to enhance their skills. This ensures that children receive the best possible support to meet their individual needs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY453147 Local authority Camden Inspection number 10374636 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

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Action for Children

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reference number

Telephone number 02072787966 Date of previous inspection 17 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Cubit Street Play Centre registered in September 2012. It is an out-of-school provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The play centre is based in Kings Cross, in the London Borough of Camden. It is open for children in the early years age group on Saturdays during term time and during school holidays, from 10am to 4pm. The play centre also opens on a Wednesday and Thursday from 3.30pm until 6pm, during term time. The play centre employs 16 members of staff. Most members of staff hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 3 and above.

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Inspection activities

n Leaders completed a tour of the premises with the inspector. n Discussions were held with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children during activities. n The inspector reviewed a variety of documents, including evidence of the suitability of staff's qualifications, first-aid certificates and policies and procedures.

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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

12 December 2024 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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