BRANCH

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy their time in this welcoming, inclusive club. They arrive at the club smiling broadly, keen to take part in the activities for the evening. Friendly staff greet children warmly and enthusiastically.

Children clearly enjoy the staff's company and develop strong relationships with them. Children are gentle, kind and caring towards one another. For example, children wait for their friends and help them to climb up and down the slopes in the woods.

Children's behaviour is excellent. They speak to staff, visitors and each other with the utmost respect. They demonstrate excellent manners.

For i...nstance, children say 'excuse me' to one another when they need to get past. Older children are kind and considerate towards younger children. They include them in their play and patiently explain the rules of the game.

Staff provide children with healthy snacks that include fresh vegetables and fruit. Children are frequently offered drinks by staff, to keep them hydrated. Children demonstrate excellent hygiene practice.

For example, they wash their hands as soon as they arrive at the club, in readiness for their snack.Children are confident and eager to chat with staff and visitors about their favourite pastimes and current interests.

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

The dedicated provider and staff are enthusiastic and passionate about their roles.

They work hard as a team to ensure the club is a fun, safe and inclusive environment for the children who attend. They have introduced a 'buddy' system for older children to support new and younger children when they first start at the club.The provider monitors staff practice through supervision and peer reviews.

She ensures staff training in paediatric first aid, safeguarding and food hygiene are regularly updated. She also organises specific training to support staff's continuous professional development and to meet the needs of the children who attend.The provider strives to maintain good standards and so seeks the views of local authority advisers, staff, parents and children to help her identify aspects of the provision to develop further.

Parents speak very highly of the staff. They comment on the good communication between the staff and themselves. For example, staff pass messages to and from the host school.

Parents say their children talk about and thoroughly enjoy the activities on offer at the club. They say their children look forward to attending. Parents comment that the staff are 'extremely kind and caring'.

Staff know the children well. They find out what children are learning in school and they make every effort to complement this in the club. For example, they provide a variety of activities to help children to develop their small muscles to help them to progress with their writing skills.

Staff talk to children about their interests and what they like to do. They use this information to plan a variety of exciting activities for children. However, occasionally, children wait too long while staff carry out routine tasks.

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children work with staff to devise the 'golden rules' of the club. Consequently, children have a good understanding of the club rules and behave well.

They share, take turns and play cooperatively.Staff provide lots of praise and encouragement that helps to promote children's confidence and self-esteem. A young child is proud to show everyone how they can put on their own coat.

Children are confident to share their views and say the club is 'great fun'. They talk about what they like to do at the club, such as football, art and craft and being with their friends.In the woods, staff encourage children to run, play, explore and climb.

Staff organise interesting activities for the children, such as bark-rubbing and collecting items to take back to the club to make collages.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff are vigilant about keeping children safe.

The school site is secure. Staff deploy themselves so they can support children's chosen play and ensure their safety. Children learn about taking risks as they use the different climbing and balancing equipment in the school playground.

Staff have a secure understanding of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse. They know when and where to refer any concern they may have about a child's welfare. The manager has robust recruitment arrangements in place to help to ensure all staff are suitable to work with children.

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