Taxal & Fernilee Out of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements When children arrive at the club, they are extra keen to talk to staff and share news about their day in school.

Staff give children their time and show a genuine interest in what children are saying, asking questions and appreciating children's opinions. The club environment in the school building is safe and secure. Staff have clear behaviour expectations and children know what these are.

When older children test the boundaries of these expectations, staff remind children about them with kindness and good humour. Older children show care and consideration for the youngest children. For example, they adapt their football ...games when young children want to join in and spend time with them drawing and decorating the playground with chalks.

Staff provide children with access to a wide range of activities, both indoors and outdoors. They are on hand to give children support and help when they need it. Children know what they want to do and happily go to join in with their friends.

The younger children delight in blowing bubbles and watching them float away in the wind when they are outdoors. Children use den building equipment and build train tracks as they cooperate with each other and use their imagination to develop their play.

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

Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have invested a good deal of time and effort to successfully make improvements to meet the early years foundation stage requirements.

They have reviewed and changed their approach to providing early years children with a key person. The key person has a good relationship with the early years children. All staff are aware of the needs of the early years children and interact with them, using their knowledge of the children as a foundation for conversation.

Procedures to keep children safe in the setting are robust and understood by all staff.Staff have an impressive depth of knowledge of safeguarding policy and practice. They understand that their primary responsibility is the safety of the children.

They know who to report concerns to, what would give them cause for concern and how to keep records. Staff have taken on board that the location of the club does not eliminate the risk of children being groomed into gangs or being radicalised. They help older children to be aware of online dangers and what to be aware of.

Staff and children treat each other with respect. Younger children who still need support with their personal, social and emotional development following the pandemic are supported in this, by staff who model kind and caring behaviour. This is reflected in children's positive and thoughtful behaviour when they play.

Children are busy the whole time they are at the club. Staff plan the resources and activities they are going to provide based on the children they know will be attending. They also include activities they predict will be of interest to children, such as having a focus on Easter in the art area.

Children happily discuss what they like to do, and say what their favourite activities are when they are at the club.Staff are keen to help children to develop healthy lifestyles, particularly through making healthy snack and meal choices. Children excitedly talk about 'Foodie Friday' when staff run a popular cookery session.

Children prepare food for meals, such as vegetable curry, and take the recipe home with them for their family to try out. Staff talk to children about nutrients and dietary fibre contained in their snacks and meals. Children giggle as they recall how dietary fibre helps them to go to the toilet.

Additional funding sourced by the staff is used to support projects such as this.Staff development and support are given careful thought by leaders and managers. They monitor staff practice and review the development of the club.

Staff receive feedback on their practice and access appropriate development opportunities to strengthen their skills and knowledge.Parents are extremely pleased with the club. They say that their children thrive, and praise staff for providing children with activities that they become engrossed in.

Parents also appreciate the support staff give families at potentially difficult times in their lives.

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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