Battling Brook After School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision does not meet requirements There are weaknesses in the leadership and management of the club.

Managers do not monitor staff's practice or ensure staff have up-to-date knowledge of local safeguarding concerns. Staff do not have a clear understanding of the club's referral procedures and do not know where to report concerns about a child or colleague. These weaknesses potentially impact on the safety of children.

Overall, children behave well. They follow instructions given by members of staff. Staff provide praise for positive behaviour.

Children are polite and show respect to their friends. They hold the door open for their friends ...who say thank you. Children clap and celebrate their friends as they win 'Star of the Week'.

They quickly engage in activities, which staff set up based on their interests and cover the range of age groups which attend the club. Children enjoy a range of arts and crafts activities. For example, staff help them to thread string as they make wind chimes.

Children enjoy playing ball games on the field and take turns to be in the goal during a game of football. Older children play well with younger children and invite them to participate in their games. Staff members role model how to play games fairly to ensure younger children feel involved.

Children say they enjoy playing outside at the club. They take care of their environment and pick things up from the floor when they fall from the table. However, staff do not ensure children follow good hand hygiene to help prevent the spread of infection.

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

Staff are aware of some signs that indicate a child is at risk of harm or abuse. They undertake online training courses linked to child protection. However, they do not have a robust understanding of the signs and symptoms that indicate a child is at risk of exploitation or radicalisation.

This potentially puts children at risk.The staff know who the designated safeguarding lead is and the procedure to report any safeguarding concerns to her. However, the manager does not ensure staff have a complete and up-to-date understanding of the club's safeguarding procedures.

Staff do not know what to do if their concerns are not addressed appropriately. They do not know how to follow referral procedures to gain the support children may require to keep them safe from outside agencies.The manager provides inductions for new members of staff.

However, the manager does not ensure that established staff members receive regular ongoing coaching or supervision. As a result, the manager is unaware of the gaps in staff's safeguarding knowledge. Despite these weaknesses, the manager follows an appropriate recruitment procedure and ensures background checks are completed for all staff.

Staff ensure the environment is clean and have adapted new cleaning protocols since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, staff do not always promote children's good hygiene practices. For example, they do not ensure that children wash their hands before eating snacks.

The manager supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. She ensures that children have a dedicated quiet place they can retreat to if they feel overwhelmed. The manager works closely with families and provides advice and guidance on where they can seek external support.

Parents say their children are happy to attend the club and often do not want to leave. They state their children enjoy the group games, such as bingo, and spending time with friends. Parents say that staff are friendly and build positive relationships with their children.

A successful key-person system is in place to support younger children. Staff have a robust settling-in procedure for these children and ensure that they quickly build a bond with a key member of staff. Staff obtain information from parents when a child first starts to ensure they know the child and their family well and can plan activities to meet the child's interests.

Key persons also share information about children's activities with parents at the end of each session.Children have access to a wide selection of activities they can choose from. When children feel unsure how to do an activity, staff members intervene to provide further guidance and support.

Staff ensure that all children have a friend to play with and help children to form bonds with others. When children have minor accidents and become unsettled, staff provide comfort and reassurance.Staff encourage children to work together and join in team games.

They ensure all children know the rules before they start to play. Older children encourage younger children to join in. This ensures all children develop a sense of belonging and feel involved in the club activities.

Children are confident to shout and participate in the games positively.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.Staff are unable to identify the signs which may indicate a child is at risk of radicalisation or extreme views.

In addition, they are not clear on reporting procedures in the event they have concerns about a child or member of staff. The manager does not recognise or address gaps in the staff's safeguarding knowledge, and supervision arrangements are weak. The manager and staff ensure the premises are safe and secure for children to play in.

Staff are well deployed, and children cannot leave the premises unattended. The staff risk assess equipment and resources to ensure they are safe and appropriately maintained.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date ensure all staff have a thorough understanding of safeguarding, including the 'Prevent' duty guidance 20/06/2023 ensure staff understand the club's procedures for reporting any concerns they have about a child or a member of staff to the relevant agencies 20/06/2023 improve supervision, coaching and mentoring to ensure gaps in staff's understanding are understood and swiftly closed 20/06/2023 ensure children's good health and hygiene are promoted at all times, with particular regard to handwashing before eating to prevent cross-infection.

20/06/2023

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