Mid Tyne Kids Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children excitedly enter the club after a busy day at school.

They are confident and self-assured. Children show respectful bonds with all staff. They choose what they want to do while at the club.

For example, children play a game of pool, where they practise listening and taking turns. They choose from a variety of creative materials. Children develop their imaginations and creative ideas.

There is an effective key-person system in place, which helps the youngest of children to settle quickly into the normal routines. Staff carefully observe and support children. This helps children to build a strong sense of be...longing and emotional well-being.

Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff have extremely high expectations. For example, all children immediately stop what they are doing, clap back and listen as staff gently clap several times to gain their attention.

Staff listen to children. They take a genuine interest in what children are saying, encouraging them to share more details during conversations. Children have opportunities to play indoors and outdoors.

This helps them to have access to fresh air and space to move around. Children have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. Younger children delight in playing ball games, such as football and basketball with their older peers.

They practise new skills. Staff supervise them meticulously and provide appropriate support when needed. All children successfully negotiate the space around them and show an awareness of the safety of others.

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

Staff ask children purposeful questions, who actively discuss their intentions. Drawing is a very popular activity with children. They thoroughly enjoy working creatively in the art area.

Children persevere to get their artwork just right. They delight in making Valentine's Cards. Children show good coordination and control, using the wide range of materials and resources available to them.

They practise their skills, such as using scissors.Children follow good hygiene procedures. For example, they wash their hands or use hand gel before sitting down to eat.

Children independently access their lunch boxes and clear their own things away at the end of teatime. During this time, children of all ages socialise well together and talk about their school day.Staff are attentive and enthusiastically involve themselves in children's play.

They recognise when children need some quiet time and sit with them in the sofa area. Staff provide children with time to play together and do not interrupt them unnecessarily. This helps children to build on their own self-reliance and confidence in building friendships.

Children have very strong attachments to each other and staff, and are often reluctant to leave the club.The manager leads the club with dedication and determination. She has created a highly inclusive ethos and treats all children as unique individuals.

In addition, the manager has enhanced the play experiences that are provided for children. For example, children enjoy visits from a circus performer, exotic animals and a magician. Consequently, children thoroughly enjoy their time at the club.

All children are extremely focused and engaged in their play.A management committee supports staff. They meet regularly with the manager to discuss and review their practices.

Managers evaluate all areas of the club well. They value the comments of parents in questionnaires to help identify areas for change. Managers also involve children in this process to capture their ideas and suggestions of things they would like to add to their experiences.

The manager works highly effectively alongside staff. Staff receive good support from their colleagues and the management team. They complete an induction process and learn about their roles and responsibilities.

Staff say that they enjoy working at the club. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on staffing levels has limited the opportunities for managers to provide staff with supervision meetings. This would help them to set targets to enhance staff's ongoing professional development further.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good knowledge of the signs, symptoms and indicators of possible abuse and neglect. They understand the steps to take should they become concerned about the welfare of a child or the professional conduct of a colleague.

All staff attend mandatory safeguarding training and keep up to date with changes in legislation and policy. They are deployed well to ensure that there are good levels of supervision and support for all children. Managers have successful induction procedures to make sure that staff are vetted, suitable and understand their roles and responsibilities.

They implement policies and procedures well, including daily risk assessments. There is a secure system for entry. This contributes towards children's safety, and means they are able to play and explore in a secure environment.

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