Barracudas Chichester

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the exciting holiday club.

They arrive confidently, happily and eager to start their day. Children leave their parents easily and meet their friends with hugs and smiles, discussing what they might do today. New children are greeted at the door by caring and attentive staff and are quickly made to feel very welcome.

Early years children have their own dedicated base room and staff team, which helps them to feel safe and secure. Children move around the extensive grounds throughout the day, taking part in an extremely wide range of fun activities. There is a strong focus on being phys...ically active.

However, children always have two choices per hour session and are fully able to follow their own interests. For example, during the inspection, children chose between taking part in a 'mini Olympics' or going on a nature trail. Children delight in exciting outdoor activities and benefit from plenty of fresh air and exercise.

For instance, they compete in friendly competitions to flip as many cones over as they can in one minute. Children learn teamwork during group games and follow instructions and rules confidently. They are very respectful of the club, staff and each other.

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

The adventurous holiday club offers children an extensive variety of activities. For example, children take part in swimming, go karts, dance, drama and fencing. Parents are highly appreciative of these 'special experiences' and children excitedly talk about their favourite things to do, such as 'going on the bouncy castle'.

Children are very sociable and make fun and trusting friendships at the club. They actively include others in their play and look to share their experiences. For example, children enjoyed making rockets together with blocks and took turns counting down from 10, before shouting 'blast off' together.

Staff are well qualified, experienced and enthusiastic about their role. They form strong bonds with children and create a fun and positive atmosphere. Children enjoy joking and playing around with staff and are keen to chat to them about their lives, interests and recent experiences.

This helps staff get to know children closely and meet their individual needs well.There is a strong leadership team in place and the club is managed well. The club manager and early years lead are closely supported by the area manager.

Together, they observe the quality of practice regularly and reflect on children's experiences. Staff are thoroughly inducted and receive the guidance, training and coaching they need to fulfil their roles confidently. However, more targeted support is needed to raise the quality of less experienced staff's practice to the highest levels.

Staff support children's healthy lifestyles particularly well. Children are very physically active throughout the day and learn the importance of handwashing to stop the spread of germs. Staff acknowledge children's healthy eating and help to instil a sense of pride in healthy food choices.

Children proudly show staff the fruit they eat and show a strong understanding of the benefits of healthy living.Children behave well and are kind and helpful to each other. Staff are positive role models and, overall, gently encourage children's good behaviour.

They remind children of the club rules each morning, such as using kind hands and words. Staff praise children's efforts and behaviour warmly. However, on rare occasions, less experienced staff miss opportunities to further support children's understanding of behavioural expectations.

Although there are structured activities around the club grounds, there are also plenty of opportunities for children to explore their own play and be creative. For example, children enjoy building models, completing puzzles, making collages and drawing pictures. Staff plan daily creative activities, which children take part in eagerly.

During the inspection, children listened to a story about emotions and then discussed what made them feel happy, sad, angry or calm. Children then made their own emotion themed drawings and sensory bottles, using colours to express how they felt.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders fully understand their responsibility to safeguard children, train staff and implement their policies. They run thorough induction training to ensure staff's knowledge is strong and up to date. Staff are confidently able to identify and respond to any signs that a child may be at risk of harm.

They understand the need to share any concerns quickly in order to help keep children safe. Leaders and staff have a good understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as signs that a child may be at risk from exposure to extreme views. There are thorough recruitment procedures in place to ensure that those employed to work with children are suitable to do so.

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