Holiday Zone-Manor Park

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children look happy when they arrive at the club. They are ready to play and have fun.

The experienced staff help children to build on what they know. Children play a game that requires them to match plastic food items to the pictures on little cards. When children confuse the tomato with the pepper, staff help them to look at the word on the card.

They agree that the picture must be a pepper, because the word starts with 'p'. This helps to reinforce children's emerging phonic knowledge while they play. The game ends when the food items scatter satisfyingly from a spring-loaded barbecue.

Children's enjoyment and s...ense of anticipation is obvious. They want to play and learn again.Children behave well.

Staff help them become polite and confident members of the holiday club. For example, children decide to add glitter to the Hallowe'en potion that they are mixing. They eagerly find the glitter, then check with an adult that it is okay to use some of it in the potion.

Staff keep a close eye on children who are new to the setting. Their kind supervision helps children to feel safe while they play and explore.

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

The manager is clear about what she wants children to experience at the club.

Her aim is that children have fun, make confident choices and continue their learning. Staff follow the manager's lead. They encourage and support children to make decisions.

They give children time and space to develop their own ideas. Children become deeply absorbed in play that interests and challenges them.The manager and staff receive supervision that promotes their professional development and improves the provision.

They recently reviewed systems for noticing and rewarding children's positive behaviour. Staff have completed training that builds on their existing knowledge and experience. Children now understand the expectations for their conduct even better.

The well-qualified team help children to extend their language skills during activities. Children join in with making Hallowe'en biscuits. They hear and remember what the ingredients are called.

They learn new words, such as 'batch'. Staff use expressive words, such as 'squish' and 'squeeze' when they mix and knead the dough. The rich conversation helps children to increase the number of words that they know.

Staff know children well and strive to meet their individual needs. They provide quieter areas for children who do not want to join in with noisy play. They reassure children who do not want to put their hands into the squidgy biscuit dough.

This teaches children that their preferences are heard and valued by staff. Children learn that they can say no to things that worry them.Children play a game that requires them to think ahead and work strategically.

They interact competitively and cooperatively with each other as the game progresses. Less experienced children learn from children who have practised and honed their skills. They concentrate really hard for long periods.

This helps children to become determined and thoughtful participants.Children take part in physical activities. They energetically propel scooters around the school playground.

This promotes children's stamina. They learn to travel safely around objects and other children. Children work together to stack crates, then climb up and jump from them.

This teaches children to judge and take risks.Activities are generally well planned and organised. Children follow their own initiative and find the toys and resources that they need.

However, children's enthusiasm means that some adult-led activities attract a high number of children. This increases the time that children spend waiting for a turn.Parents and carers say that staff are friendly and approachable.

They report that children look forward to attending the club. For example, children tell parents that they want club to last 'for 100 sleeps'. Parents particularly like the focus on active, varied play.

They say that children come home dirty and tired and that this helps to confirm that they have had a great time.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe.

They know what to do if they believe a child is at risk of abuse and neglect. They know that they must report any concerns about colleagues' behaviour towards children. Children follow rules that keep them safe.

They always wear crash helmets when they ride scooters on the playground. They wash their hands before eating and cooking. The club works in partnership with the school.

Staff teams work together to keep the premises safe and secure. They share information that promotes children's well-being. For example, when children attend sessions before and after school.

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