Achieve4All - St Michael’s

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enjoy their time at this enriching holiday club. They engage in a wealth of sport and creative activities aimed to develop their physical stamina, resilience and teamwork. Staff and children have formed positive relationships.

Most staff know the children before they join the club as they also work in the nearby schools or in extra-curricular activities. This helps children to feel secure when they first start as staff already have a strong understanding of their needs and interests. Children say they feel safe and can talk to staff members about any worries or concerns if necessary.

Staff listen attentively to ch...ildren, responding to them warmly. Children have high levels of well-being. Staff encourage children to learn new skills and to play cooperatively.

For example, during a basketball and handball tournament, staff give children bonus points for effective teamwork. Children support one another cheering 'well done' to their teammates. This helps to support their peers' confidence and self-esteem.

Children have a positive attitude and show a willingness to join in with activities. Staff ensure that these are inclusive so that all children can engage and participate. Children are complimentary about the club and the staff, commenting on how much they enjoy coming.

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

Staff plan fun activities that capture children's interest, such as food tasting. Staff provide children with familiar fruits as well as unusual ones from around the world. Children show a willingness to explore new fruits and describe how they feel and smell.

Children talk to their peers about their experience and write down descriptive words before and after they have tasted them, such as 'crisp, crunchy, sour, sweet, furry' and 'prickly'. Children enjoy making a fruit kebab and share any new fruits they have tried and liked with staff and their parents.The club have formed effective relationships with the on-site school and with other settings children attend.

Staff share any relevant information with professionals to ensure children's welfare and individual needs are consistently met. The club is highly inclusive, enabling all children to achieve and learn new skills.Parents are complimentary about the club.

They state how staff keep them informed about their child's well-being and of the activities they have engaged in throughout the day. Parents comment how staff are professional, friendly and knowledgeable.The leadership team has a clear vision for the club and seeks feedback from parents, staff and children to drive ongoing improvements.

For example, they plan activities specifically around children's needs to support their confidence, social skills and self-esteem.Children develop a strong understanding of good health. They know physical exercise and keeping hydrated is important.

Staff ensure children wash their hands before eating and liaise closely with catering staff to ensure children's dietary and medical conditions are strictly adhered to.Staff help children understand safety expectations. Each morning when the club starts, staff talk to children about what to do in the event of a fire or other potential emergency.

They discuss with children about how they can reduce risks during activities and how to keep one another safe.Children enjoy exploring the forest area where they take part in a scavenger hunt. Children search for specific items as listed on their worksheet, such as daisies, clover and hazelnut cases.

Once found, children excitedly tell staff and their friends, recording their findings. Children are supportive of one another, working in groups to help one another find the objects.Staff ensure all children feel emotionally secure.

They effectively support younger children and those new to the club. For example, staff sit and read stories to them in a quiet area. They also talk to them about their own experiences and things they enjoy doing.

With gentle encouragement and positive support, children are soon ready to join in with whole-group activities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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