Kidzone @ North Cheshire Jewish School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children feel welcome, secure and valued in the safe and familiar school environment. Staff have high expectations of the children's behaviour and attitudes.

Children behave well, and older children support and help younger ones. They choose from a wide range of activities both indoors and outdoors. Many children choose to play in the large outdoor area whatever the weather.

They relish the fresh air and being able to run and move in a wide-open space. The area is secure and welcoming to children. There is a choice of large equipment that includes a challenging climbing frame.

On this, children learn to manage ris...ks as they climb and balance. This helps to build up their confidence. Children make good use of the tepee and wooden house for imaginative play.

They develop their hand-to-eye coordination as they play racquet and ball games. There is range of markings on the ground to promote traditional playground games. Snacks are available to the children at the start of the session.

They choose from a healthy range of kosher food. This helps to develop their independence and self-help skills. Planned activities enable children to celebrate their own festivals and those of other cultures.

They recently prepared and ate food associated with Rosh Hashanah.

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

Senior leaders have a secure understanding of the welfare requirements. This knowledge supports all children to be well settled, enabling them to thoroughly enjoy their time in the group.

The ethos of the group is that either side of the school day children are free to choose their activities. Staff aim to make resources and equipment available to meet children's individual choices. This helps children to feel confident and to understand that they are unique.

They display good levels of engagement in activities.Staff are good role models who put in place positive behaviour strategies. The children respond well to this.

They are respectful and polite towards staff and one another.Relationships within the group are strong. The children know one another and some staff from school and the community.

This helps them to form strong bonds with each other. Children have animated discussions during snack time. They play confidently together throughout the sessions.

Older children offer support to younger children which helps them to settle and engage in activities.Children have daily opportunities to play in the outdoor area with a wide range of equipment. In doing so they feel the benefits of exercise.

They also learn the importance of exercise and developing a healthy lifestyle.Parents speak very highly of the group. They believe it to be a safe environment where children enjoy a wide range of activities.

Parents have access to the organisation's website for information on the group. They say there is 'lots of verbal communication with the staff at pick-up time'. Staff gain the views of parents through questionnaires.

They use the information to identify areas for development.Senior leaders have appropriately identified areas for development. They hope to provide children with a quiet area for more solitary activities, to use resources more effectively between their groups and to develop better systems for staff supervision and support.

There are strong links between school and the group. Staff from the group take children to and from the Reception class. This allows them to exchange information with school staff.

In doing so, they get a better understanding of the needs of the children. They also find out what topics the children are learning in school and build on this. For instance, a dentist came to visit the group when children were learning about 'people who help us'.

Staff maintain all required documentation. It is well organised and easily accessible.Staff enjoy their work, feel part of a team and describe their workload as manageable.

They are happy to be outside with the children all year round.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.All staff receive regular training in safeguarding to keep their knowledge up to date.

They know what to do if they think a child is at risk or if there is an allegation against an adult. There is high security throughout the building. This includes a guarded entrance, camera coverage and tight vetting of visitors.

Senior leaders use safer recruitment procedures to ensure all adults are suitable to work with children. They attend safeguarding meeting organised by the local authority. This helps them gain a wider knowledge and an awareness of potential safeguarding issues within the authority.

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