AP Kids Zone

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy and settled. They follow their own interests, choose the toys they want to play with and put them away after use. Children build good friendships as they play together.

They are confident and develop strong bonds with the staff, who know them well. Staff respond quickly when children need them. Children feel secure, valued and listened to.

This helps them to build on their social and physical skills, and creativity. They learn to negotiate and take turns during play, for example, while playing table pool and when playing board games, such as chess or using art materials. Children show a good understandin...g of the club rules that help them stay safe, such as not to run when indoors.

Children are kind and sensitive to each other and behave well.Children have good language skills and are confident speakers. When asked what they like to do at the club, they eagerly show the bead bracelets they have made and how to use the finger looms.

Older children support the younger children when they find things tricky. Children listen well and are eager to learn new skills. For example, children sit with staff to learn the rules of chess and confidently share their ideas and reasons for the moves they make to win the game.

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

Staff are knowledgeable about their responsibility to keep children safe. They know the procedure to follow if a child has an accident. Staff ensure children's emergency medication and care plans are always on hand.

The manager and staff team complete risk assessments on all activities to ensure they are appropriate and safe for all children.Staff follow children's ideas and interests when planning activities for the children to enjoy. For example, children talk with excitement as they make bracelets or play table football.

Children are eager to share stories about their day and eagerly talk about their rehearsal for the play they are involved in at school, others talk about the books they enjoy at reading club. These opportunities help children to be curious and engage deeply in their chosen play and activities.Staff join in with children's games and praise them for their skills and individual strengths.

They encourage children to be confident with their ideas and engage in positive interactions with the children. Staff adapt their levels of support and expectations skilfully to each child's age and stage of development.Children are good communicators.

They are confident to interact with unfamiliar people. Children talk confidently to visitors about their favourite activities. They show what they have made with a sense of pride and achievement.

Children enjoy sociable snack and lunchtimes as they sit with their friends chatting about the activities they have enjoyed. They are supported to learn about healthy lifestyles, as they have opportunities to be physically active, for example they enjoy team games, such as football and dodgeball and practise climbing and balancing on the play equipment. This means children develop their physical skills.

Parent partnerships are well developed. Daily handovers help exchange information about children's needs between staff and parents. Parents speak positively about how their children enjoy attending and the activities staff provide.

They feel their children are well cared for and that staff are always friendly and approachable. Parents feel their children benefit greatly as the staff are also part of their daily life in school.Staff work well together.

There are daily debriefs and regular meetings, where they discuss what has worked well. They say they feel happy and supported at work. The manager meets with staff to discuss their roles and is seeking further training to enhance their professional development.

New staff are supported well by the staff team on the daily running of the club. However, a more detailed induction would enhance new staff's understanding of the setting's policies and procedures in relation to their role within the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a good understanding of how to protect children from harm. They know how to identify and report their concerns about how to keep children safe. All staff attend regular training to ensure that their safeguarding knowledge is up to date.

Staff understand the process to follow if they have a concern regarding a colleague. They are clear about the role of working with other professionals. Safer recruitment procedures mean that staff's suitability is thoroughly vetted.

The premises are safe and secure. Staff risk assess the environment well. Organisation of the setting is good.

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