Active Camps Rye St Antony

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements On the day of the inspection, some children are attending the camp for the first time. Staff are attentive and check in with these children regularly to ensure that they feel safe and secure.

They position themselves close by for reassurance when needed. Children say that they enjoy the activities on offer, with particular reference to painting.Children benefit from exciting opportunities to develop their physical skills.

They learn about the importance of warming up their bodies before exercise. Children competently jump, run and change direction during their activities, showing good control and coordination.Children are ...supported well to understand the expectations at the camp.

For example, staff interactions with them are sensitive and supportive. Staff give children reminders to help children understand rules for activities and games. Children listen and concentrate well.

They work cooperatively with others to play games, for instance to collect the largest number of 'dinosaur eggs'.Children adapt to the routines of the camp well and are encouraged to manage their personal needs. Children demonstrate this by using the toilet and washing their hands independently before snack time.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

The staff team works well to plan age-appropriate and fun activities for children. For example, prior to each camp, staff plan an overview of activities, which they relate to themes in the calendar year. They have the flexibility to change activities according to children's level of interest.

Staff recognise that, at times, they would benefit from more consideration beforehand of the resources needed to help some sessions run even more smoothly.Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of how to include concepts that children may be learning in other settings they attend. For example, children compare the number of eggs that they collect in competitive games.

Staff model effectively, showing children how to count a group accurately.Children, including those who have not attended before, behave well. They adapt to the routines of the club swiftly and staff support them effectively to do this at each stage of the day.

Staff establish good methods of communication with parents. For example, parents have opportunities to talk to staff about their children's day on collection. Managers openly request parents' feedback on the service they provide to help inform their continual improvement.

Area managers implement procedures to help staff meet children's personal needs effectively. For example, at the time of booking, parents provide essential information about their children's needs. The manager shares this with staff at the start of each session to ensure that all children's needs are met.

Staff working with younger children are particularly aware of the need to support those who may have recently learned to use the toilet.Area managers have procedures in place to monitor staff practice. For instance, they frequently visit the camp to observe staff delivering activities.

They provide feedback and identify training opportunities to help staff develop their practice further.Managers ensure that staff have a thorough induction. This helps them to become familiar with company policies and expectations.

This is particularly helpful when staff are deployed to work at other settings within the company during the year. For example, staff complete mandatory training, such as safeguarding, before they are able to work in the camp.Leaders have established strong procedures to help keep children safe on site.

For example, staff regularly count the number of children they have, before moving to an activity in another location. Staff also communicate with each other using walkie talkies when they are using different parts of the building. This enables the manager to have a secure picture of where staff and children are at all times.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe. They risk assess activities available during different seasons at the camp effectively.

For instance, at times when children learn to swim, staff follow robust procedures to ensure that they are familiar with the children's abilities before any swim sessions. Managers also ensure that there are a sufficient number of qualified staff to lead and supervise the activity. Area managers follow robust recruitment and onboarding procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

They regularly check on staff suitability. Staff have a secure understanding of camp procedures should they have a concern about children's welfare or staff practice. They are able to describe signs and symptoms of abuse, including domestic violence, neglect and grooming.