ChuckleBox Out of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Staff create a welcoming atmosphere and plan a range of activities that complement children's learning at school well. Children show they are happy, comfortable and feel secure. Children show good involvement as they participate in a range of activities.

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They frequently acknowledge their positive efforts and new achievements. Furthermore, staff give children reminders about the boundaries of the setting.

As a result, children show good engagement and behave well. Staff plan a good range of activities that support children's creativity. For instance, children enjoy part...icipating in art and craft activities, such as designing snow globes and using glue and glitter.

Staff help children to discuss their intentions and to make links to the wintry weather. Staff also support children to develop their ideas when exploring play dough. For example, staff demonstrate how to create 'cookies' and support children to use lots of mathematical language and make comparisons as they play.

Staff plan daily opportunities for children to play outdoors. They have fun participating in obstacle courses, playing basketball and a variety of other ball games. This helps children to lead active and healthy lifestyles and to develop their gross motor skills.

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

Leaders and staff have made some positive improvements to the after-school club since their last inspection. Staff now engage in regular professional development opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. Furthermore, staff receive frequent coaching and have become more reflective, frequently making evaluations of the activities, the overall effectiveness of the team, and of the service they offer.

A new manager has recently joined the after-school club. She has a clear vision in relation to making ongoing enhancements to the club. For instance, there is a clear emphasis on developing even greater consistency across staff members' interactions with children.

Overall, staff interact well with children. For instance, they have friendly discussions about their day, support them during their play and listen to their ideas to plan future activities.Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well.

For instance, they work closely with parents and the host school's teaching team. This helps them to implement consistent strategies to meet individual children's differing needs. Furthermore, staff engage in relevant training, such as developing their knowledge of supporting children with autism, the importance of implementing clear routines, and a consistent approach when managing children's behaviour.

Staff deploy themselves well and make good use of the large space that they operate from. They have good systems in place to communicate across the different play spaces. Children are comfortable and relaxed at the club.

They happily play in the different areas, have a good bond with the staff and behave in a positive manner.Staff actively involve children in making decisions about the club. For instance, they ask them about what resources and activities they like.

Children speak positively about attending. They express they like playing with their friends, the kind staff, and the varied activities. Older children also speak in a positive way, however, they indicate they would like some additional resources to more specifically cater for their age group.

Staff build good relationships with parents and carers. Parents state that they are happy with the club. They express that they value the friendly staff, appreciate the good range of planned experiences and feel that their children enjoy attending.

Despite their good levels of satisfaction, some parents raise they would like a wider range of hot meals, as opposed to the snacks and light meals currently on offer.Staff support children to learn about diversity and different cultures in a successful way. For instance, the staff take time to learn about children's home culture when they join and plan activities to develop children's awareness of different beliefs and home traditions.

This is evident when children listen to the story about Diwali and ice biscuits to mark the celebration.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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