The Den

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children appear happy and settle quickly at this holiday and out-of-school club.

Older children welcome new arrivals warmly and include these children in their play. They show them around and help them to settle in. Children play harmoniously together.

They collectively gather cushions and blankets to make dens, proudly showing them to staff. They share resources and praise each other's efforts, inviting other children to sit in their den 'to see how comfy it is'. Children's individual personalities are celebrated and supported.

Staff take time to get to know children, asking about their lives as they chat and pla...y alongside them. Children's behaviour is good. They speak respectfully to each other as they discuss and decide the rules of a game.

They check their understanding is correct as they involve staff. Children laugh as they play games, and quieter children are encouraged to join in by being asked to call out the colours. Children are proud to demonstrate their gymnastic skills, showing visitors that they can cartwheel.

Staff ensure the space is safe and children use appropriate mats for physical activities.

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

Since the last inspection, the provider has been working on their understanding of the relevant legislation. Staff now receive regular supervisions and attend relevant training to build on their skills and help them to further develop their knowledge.

Children are encouraged to be kind and respectful. During a painting activity, children place pottery figures to one side for friends who have not yet arrived. Children beam with pride as their friends arrive and thank them for their thoughtfulness.

Staff carefully consider safety procedures for the walk to and from school. Older children are encouraged to buddy up with younger children to help keep everyone safe. This helps to encourage older children's sense of responsibility and builds friendships.

Staff discuss road safety with children as they support them to find safe places to cross.Staff are generally attentive to children's needs. For example, they encourage children who appear tired to rest in the snug, quiet corner.

Staff check on them regularly, while enabling them to rest until they want to re-join their friends.Children access a range of craft activities, chosen to meet their needs and interests. They are each given their own unlined exercise book to draw and write in.

Children proudly show visitors their books and explain how their drawings link to what they are learning about in school. For example, children draw healthy food after participating in a recent healthy eating project.Staff and management help children to stay healthy and learn new skills.

They work with children to develop life-skills knowledge, and award them certificates. For example, children receive certificates for good road safety awareness and completing recycling projects.Children's concentration is promoted.

For instance, staff sit with children as they thread beads. Staff praise children as they place the beads in the right order. They help to build children's resilience and encourage their persistence to task.

As beads accidentally fall off their thread, staff encourage children to start again.Overall, staff encourage good manners as they remind children to say 'please' and 'thank you'. However, this is not always consistently reinforced across the day.

For example, although leaders discuss the importance of table manners, staff do not remind children to use these at mealtimes.Children talk excitedly about their previous trips to the park. Staff understand the importance of fresh air and ensure that children are provided with plenty of opportunities to exercise and run around.

Children proudly tell visitors about their skills on climbing equipment. Staff explain that these experiences help to teach children to assess their own risk in a safe environment.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff know the possible signs that a child may be at risk of abuse. Staff know the procedures to follow should they need to report a concern about a child, and understand how to report concerns about another member of staff. Staff receive regular training and information updates about child protection and local safeguarding issues.

This means staff also understand wider safeguarding concerns, such as the 'Prevent' duty. The provider follows effective recruitment and supervision procedures to ensure that staff working with children are suitable to do so. The premises are maintained safely and kept secure.