Altofts OOSC & Early Years Centre

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are collected safely from school. They happily share with the club staff what they have been doing during the school day. Children show that they understand the expectations in place to keep them safe as they walk from the school to the club.

On arriving at the club, children follow COVID-19 hygiene practices and sanitise their hands. Children know the routine extremely well and quickly settle into their chosen activity. For instance, they enjoy playing in the school role-play area and engage in games together.

Staff provide the children time to test out ideas and problem solve. For example, they work together to ...make a marble run and tower.Staff form good relationships with children and their families.

The behaviour modelled by staff influences children's behaviour. Children show kindness and care towards others. Older children are happy to include younger children in their games.

Children's behaviour is exemplary.Parents speak positively about the club. They report children are reluctant to leave as they are having so much fun.

Parents state that children are provided with a homely environment and the freedom to make choices. They add that children are supported very well to develop their interests.

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

Inspiring staff help children to build an interest of literacy and a love of books and films.

Highly confident children can recall the context of films as they draw their favourite characters from movies they have watched. Older children read stories to younger children who listen with intrigue and fascination. For example, they display their excitement and enjoyment when listening to the older children who use funny voices as they read.

Staff expertly watch, listen and respond to children as they build on their existing knowledge and skills. Staff give children so much confidence in their abilities and children are always keen to have a go. For example, they learn how to hold a knife correctly to butter their crackers with their preferred hand.

Managers are successfully building on excellent practice. Staff supervision and training is targeted to develop their knowledge and skills, and continually improve the excellent outcomes for children. The provider actively promotes staff well-being through being consistently available to offer support.

Managers and staff work extremely well together as a team. They share ideas for improvements to the environment and their practice.Staff obtain information from parents and teaching staff before children start attending the after-school club.

This enables them to provide activities based on children's interests and meet the children's individual needs effectively. Staff share information with parents about their children's activities through daily discussions and the use of electronic devices. Staff use professional partnerships with school staff and other professionals to ensure continuity of care for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Effective systems are in place to help staff manage children's allergies and individual dietary requirements. Children enjoy a vast choice of healthy snacks and they enjoy eating filled rolls, cucumber and peppers. Children demonstrate good levels of independence as they use tongs to serve their food.

Children have good opportunities to be physically active. For instance, they enjoy spinning and rolling hoops. This helps them to develop their large-muscle skills.

Staff know the local community well and plan innovative opportunities to widen children's life experiences. They take children to visit elderly members of the community to develop care and respect. Staff help children understand how to care for their environment as they take children out in the local area to litter pick.

Staff help children to understand about caring for living creatures, such as the club's insects.Managers make thorough evaluations of the service the club provides. They use feedback from staff, children, parents, and staff at schools to make changes which benefit children.

For instance, staff regularly ask children for their thoughts and ideas to improve activities at the club, acting on their views and suggestions.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff know how to keep children safe.

They understand that safeguarding is everybody's responsibility. Staff know how to swiftly make referrals both within the after-school club and to relevant agencies. Staff undertake training to help them to gain further knowledge and skills, such as on signs of extremist behaviour.

Managers carry out thorough checks when they recruit new staff to assess their suitability. New staff undergo a thorough induction to help them to become familiar with the club's procedures, including their safeguarding policies. Staff work effectively together to ensure children are supervised well at all times.