Blooming Buds

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are excited to attend this welcoming club. They participate in a range of stimulating experiences that include sport, games and arts and craft activities.

For example, children engage in a scavenger hunt to find materials to make a crown. They use leaves, twigs and flowers and proudly wear their masterpieces. Children are asked to rate their morning out of 10 and enthusiastically score their time as 100.

Staff act as positive role models for the children and have high expectations of them. They display warmth and empathy towards the children and take time to listen to their ideas and suggestions. The manager and h...er staff team understand the impact that the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has had on children.

Subsequently, they have prioritised helping children to build their confidence and establish friendship groups. For example, when children arrive for their first day at the club, staff ensure that everyone wears a name badge. They play fun ice-breaker games and are paired up with children of a similar age.

This helps children to quickly settle and develop their skills in social situations. Children who have attended previously show kindness and concern for their new friends. They help explain the rules of games and activities and sit next to their new friends at mealtimes.

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

Throughout the day, there is a constant sound of chatter and laughter as children independently select the games or toys that they want to play with. Children thoroughly enjoy participating in fun challenges. For example, they excitedly ask the manager to set a timer so that they can compete in a construction challenge.

Children share their structures with staff and their friends, who celebrate with a round of applause to recognise their efforts. This helps to raise children's self-esteem and sense of belonging.Children behave very well.

They listen carefully to the instructions given by staff and respond well. Children demonstrate an understanding of routine and what is expected of them. They help to tidy away resources and assist their friends with small tasks.

Children's efforts are continually acknowledged and celebrated. For example, children are recognised for being kind, for behaving well and showing great sportsmanship. They are invited to spin 'the wheel of fortune' and choose a prize.

This helps children to develop positive attitudes and manage their feelings and behaviour.Staff engage positively with children, both indoors and outside, offering support when needed. Children are able to develop their physical skills well through a wealth of sporting activities.

They excitedly run around, develop new skills and participate in team games. Staff continuously remind children to stay hydrated following physical exercise. As a result, children understand healthy lifestyle practices.

Children enjoy working together. For example, as they eagerly hunt for minibeasts, one child is responsible for looking after the magnifying glass. Another carefully records the group's findings as they notice frogs, ants and butterflies.

Older children support their younger friends to collect snails, carefully placing them momentarily in containers so they can observe them together. Children listen to one another and are keen to help others. They show an awareness of team work and are patient and caring towards each other.

Partnerships with parents are good. Due to the pandemic, staff reviewed how they communicated with parents. For example, as parents are unable to access the club currently, the manager shares information via telephone calls, social media engagement and daily discussions at the entrance.

Parents' comments are overwhelmingly positive. They report how they feel well informed about the arrangements in place to help to keep their children safe. Additionally, they describe how much their children enjoy attending.

Leaders evaluate the service that they provide effectively. They seek feedback from children and parents and use this information to help to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the provision. Furthermore, staff are encouraged to contribute their ideas through informal discussions and evaluations.

The manager has identified the need to gather even more detailed information about children's likes and dislikes to further assist the settling-in process.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and provider ensure that all staff attend relevant training to enable them to swiftly identify when a child may be at risk.

Both have responsibility for safeguarding. As such, they have attended detailed training to help them to support their staff team and the families that attend. Staff confidently describe the procedure they would follow if they had concerns about a child or the conduct of a colleague.

The premises of the club are safe and secure. The manager ensures all indoor and outdoor areas are checked prior to children arriving. Throughout the day, staff complete continuous risk assessments to ensure that children are able to play in a safe environment.