The Gap Club After School & Holiday Club @ Pyrcroft Grange School, Chertsey

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children come into the club happily and talk with the staff about their school day. They settle quickly and choose that they want to play with. Children are relaxed.

They play together with the fire station garage, taking turns using the different toy vehicles. They are kind and polite to each other. Children behave well.

Visitors come into the club to speak to the children about their jobs. Children demonstrate they feel safe and secure. They confidently interact with visitors, asking them questions and telling them about their experiences.

Children have the opportunity to learn about the different emergency serv...ices, such as the police. These visits help to provide children with rich experiences.Children share their views with staff about what they want to play with.

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and are good role models. Staff support children to respect each other's opinions when they play together. This reinforces their self-confidence and emotional well-being.

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

Staff use their knowledge of what children like and are interested in for planning and providing a good range of activities that keep children engaged and involved. For example, children develop their imaginations as they pretend to work for different emergency services, such as the police and doctors. Staff provide children with a very good range of resources which extends their play.

Children are confident members of this club.Staff support children's physical well-being and their understanding of a healthy lifestyle effectively. For example, children choose from a range of nutritious food and snacks, such as sandwiches, fruit and vegetables.

Mealtimes are sociable occasions, where children talk about their interests and home events.Staff are positive role models. They encourage good manners and are respectful of the children's choices.

This supports children's good behaviour. Children are thoughtful and help each other in the club. For example, they pass each other the butter as they prepare their snacks.

This helps develop children's independence and self-esteem.Staff communicate well as a team. They reflect, review and plan play activities around children's interests and abilities.

However, sometimes planned activities are not timed appropriately to meet the needs of all the children. This means that occasionally children's own play ideas are not fully supported.Parents speak very positively about the club.

They speak highly of the staff and all they do for their children. Staff use daily conversations to inform parents about their child's individual needs. Parents state that the communication is helpful to continue their children's interests at home.

They say that their children often ask to attend the club even on their days off.The manager evaluates the effectiveness of the club. She continually makes positive changes to help meet the needs of all children and to improve their daily experiences.

For example, she recognised the emotional impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had for some children. To support children, she has introduced additional areas within the club for children to relax in. Furthermore, she has recently introduced a 'worry monster' soft toy.

This helps children to discuss and communicate their feelings with staff and supports their emotional development.The manager places high importance on keeping children safe. The premises are safe and secure.

Staff complete daily risk assessments to ensure that areas used by children are safe and suitable for their needs. Good procedures are in place for parents collecting children, to ensure their safety.The manager ensures that they have robust systems in place to recruit staff.

Staff receive a thorough induction and are encouraged in their professional development. They receive regular supervisions, which helps them to reflect on their own practice. Staff say they feel valued and supported in their work.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff know how to keep children safe and promote their welfare. They have a secure understanding of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child who is at risk of harm.

Staff know the correct procedures to follow if they have any concern about a child or the behaviour of another staff member. The manager regularly tests staff's understanding of safeguarding issues. This helps to ensure that all staff know they have a duty of care to the children, and where they can gain further support and guidance from within the club or through outside agencies.

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