Let’s Leap @ Heathland School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements On arrival, children and parents are warmly greeted.

Children run to the gate as they are so eager to attend. Information to support the care of the children is exchanged with parents. A quick check ensures children have what they need for their day.

Activities are planned for both inside and outdoors. Outside, children have opportunities to play team games. Attentive staff offer support to those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they can join in and have a go with their peers.

Children clap in appreciation of their teammates' efforts and in recognition of sportsmanship, whether t...hey are on the leading side or not. Friendships are built and self-esteem is developed as children praise each other. Behaviour is very good; children line up and take turns with little or no prompting from adults.

Children are rewarded for meeting adults' high behavioural expectations with 'wow' activities, such as go karts, animal shows and an inflatable assault course. Children are given clear instructions on the use and care of resources and equipment. For example, staff ask children questions about the safe use of go karts.

Negotiations between children and staff lead to agreed procedures, which are then actioned. For instance, children take responsibility for their personal safety and agree where they can stand safely as their peers manoeuvre the karts around the course. They put together a rota to ensure everyone gets a fair turn.

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

Parents register for the holiday club online and upload information about their child. To get to know each other, children and staff complete 'About me' posters to share their favourite colours or activities they would like to do. Children with SEND have personalised care plans, as location managers discuss and agree arrangements with parents.

Activities are differentiated to meet the range of ages and stages of children's development. Staff ask for children's thoughts and ideas, which are integrated into plans for activities.Younger children have a named key worker.

The well-qualified staff form close relationships with both the children in their care and their parents. New parents have a tour of the premises before their child starts. Children have a voice at the club.

They indicate their needs and wants and preferences for activities. Children who speak English as an additional language are well supported, as some staff speak different languages and use these, alongside English, to help children make connections and support their participation.The holiday club has access to wide spaces and child-friendly play areas within the school environment.

Children choose from a range of inside table-top games and resources. They participate in a daily group briefing to discuss the 'Golden Rules' and how they link with planned routines and activities. Children are prompted to drink to help them learn to recognise when they are thirsty.

They develop a good understanding of hygiene routines as they wash their hands before they eat.Parents praise staff and share how much their children enjoy attending the holiday club. They explain how their children are 'so eager' to attend.

Parents are confident that their children are kept safe, receive good care and take part in excellently planned activities. Communication with parents is good. Morning and afternoon handovers, as well as phone calls and emails, help build supportive relationships with parents.

Parents report how they feel involved in their children's activities and would be happy to raise any concerns they had with staff and managers.Leaders and managers want children to have fun. They are enthusiastic about providing a wide range of activities and experiences for children attending the holiday club and invest in resources and new equipment.

The leadership told the inspector that since the COVID-19 pandemic, employing new staff has been challenging. They check the suitability of staff through robust safe recruitment procedures. Staff share how ongoing training, along with opportunities for personal development, makes them feel happy and supported in their work and valued within the organisation.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff confidently answer a range of questions relating to maintaining the safety and well-being of children in their care. Leaders and managers ensure all staff access regular safeguarding training.

Prior to each holiday club, staff participate in discussions with colleagues to refresh their safeguarding knowledge and to ensure the information they have is relevant and up to date. Children are signed into and out of the club each day. Risk assessments are completed for activities and daily health and safety checks ensure the building and outside space are suitable for children's use.

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