4-2-11 Activity Camp

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enjoy their time at this welcoming camp.

Staff are enthusiastic and friendly, and form positive relationships with children, supporting them to gain confidence and settle quickly. Staff chat to children constantly, show a real interest in what they say and get to know them well. They use what they know about children to provide a broad range of engaging activities.

Older children have fun during a game of 'crab football', and younger children giggle when they try to pass a ball to each other with their eyes closed. Children enjoy experimenting with different-shaped magnetic construction pieces, joining numbered ti...les, and pushing toy vehicles through 'muddy puddles' in the 'car-wash tray'. All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, build friendships and play cooperatively.

Younger children complete jigsaw puzzles together, and older children help each other to transport large pieces of artwork to a drying table.Parents speak glowingly about the camp and are very happy with the care their children receive. They feel well informed and would recommend it to others.

Parents state that staff share information through emails, at the start of each day on arrival, and more information about their children's day on collection. This includes details about care routines and any accidents for example.

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

The owner and manager are passionate about providing a high-quality and inclusive provision for all children.

They have made many positive changes since the last inspection. They regularly reflect on practice and have placed a recent focus on listening to children's views to ensure activities are based on their interests. The owner provides staff with ongoing training and support to enhance their knowledge and skills further.

Staff state that they thoroughly enjoy working at the camp and feel well supported by the leadership team.Staff make their expectations clear to children and as a result, children's behaviour is very good. Children of all ages demonstrate they understand the boundaries, for example as they take it in turns during welcome time to talk about the 'rules for the day'.

Children share resources, take turns and demonstrate excellent listening and attention skills. For instance, during a group story about monsters, children are mesmerised for a long period. They giggle when the monster eats 'toenail scrambled eggs' and they listen to others' opinions about why they like or dislike sprouts.

Staff make good use of opportunities to explain the meaning of new words to younger children, such as 'lice'.Staff are good role models to support children's social skills, engage them in conversations and successfully encourage children to recall their previous experiences. For example, staff sit with children to eat their lunch and chat with them about their favourite foods, their families and their holidays.

Children benefit from plenty of fresh air and enjoy opportunities to take part in exuberant physical play. This includes basketball, football, running games and parachute play to support their fitness and good health. Younger children enjoy using their imagination to join themselves together in a line with hoops, so that they can move around the playground like a caterpillar.

Staff provide children with a wealth of support and encouragement during craft activities. Children are engrossed as they make dragon puppets for a theatre show. They eagerly talk to each other and staff about their 'mythical beasts'.

Children demonstrate immense pride when staff praise them for their imaginative designs. For instance, as staff show others how children made a moving head by slotting a lolly stick into the dragon's body.Children enjoy taking responsibilities and making decisions about what they want to do.

For instance, children express an interest in having a 'movie afternoon' to relax after a busy morning of activities, and enthusiastically vote for a film. Older children design and write tickets for the event and give them to their peers and adults. They eagerly explain that it 'Starts at quarter to one, it only lasts half an hour, and we're having popcorn too!'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff promote children's welfare effectively. They recognise signs and symptoms that may indicate possible abuse, and know the correct procedures to follow if they have any concerns about children or adults. Staff deploy themselves effectively and supervise children well indoors and outdoors.

They teach children how to keep themselves safe. For example, staff remind children not to climb on the 'trim trail', because the wood is wet and they may slip and hurt themselves. The owner has completed safe recruitment training and implements robust recruitment procedures, to help ensure staff suitability to work with children.

Also at this postcode