Active Camps – Wokingham

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children of all ages demonstrate they feel happy and safe at this friendly, fun holiday club.

They arrive eager to start the day and leave their parents with ease. Leaders plan a wide variety of experiences for children. Staff plan a mixture of activities for children depending on their ages.

Children also have plenty of free choice within their play. Younger children receive effective support from staff who get to know them well. For example, they use camp bases on the school grounds that are familiar to the children.

This helps children feel safe and secure in their surroundings.Children use their imaginations v...ery well. For example, they create marble runs and use puppets to make pretend games.

Children are active and have great fun as they play group games, such as tag and duck, duck, goose. These games support children to develop their large muscle groups.Children are kind and polite.

They share the resources with their friends. This helps to promote their self-confidence and emotional well-being. Children behave well.

They listen to staff and learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, children confidently tell staff that they need to listen for cars as they cross the carpark within the school grounds.

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

Leaders plan a welcoming club environment for the children.

They make full use of the areas within the school to meet the differing needs of the ages of children present. Staff deploy themselves well to help children as they play. They communicate effectively as a team, ensuring children are always supported by a familiar adult.

Children know the staff that care for them and invite them into their play. This helps children develop positive relationships.Children have a lot of opportunities to develop their physical skills.

They exercise their large muscles playing parachute games and relay races. Children strengthen their small finger muscles, as they use various connectors to piece a marble run together.Children are polite and considerate towards others.

Staff involve them in setting rules and boundaries, so children take ownership for managing their behaviour. They spend time listening to children and strongly praise their efforts. Staff model good manners throughout the day and children regularly use please and thank you towards staff and each other.

Children follow instructions very well. For example, they listen intently as staff explain rules of the games to the children.Staff support children to develop an awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

They encourage children to wash their hands before eating and to drink plenty of water after playing active games. Staff teach children about the importance of safety in the sun. Children learn how to apply sun cream before playing outside.

Mealtimes are social occasions. Staff sit with children talking about the different activities. However, sometimes, children are expected to sit for too long.

This means that they become fidgety and lose their focus.Parents speak positively about the holiday club. They comment about the consistency of the staff and how this helps their children feel safe.

Staff gather information about the children that attend the holiday club and use this to meet their individual needs. Parents report that their children thoroughly enjoy the different activities that they take part in.There is an established management team in place and together, they accurately evaluate the effectiveness of the club.

Leaders support their staff team effectively. They mentor and supervise the staff who are training to be managers of the club. Leaders encourage staff to reflect, evaluate and make plans for the ongoing development and improvement of the club through daily discussions.

The provider has rigorous recruitment procedures in place to help ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Leaders support staff well through their induction and probationary period. They work alongside staff, supporting practice.

Staff have meetings to plan their professional development. They say that they feel valued by the management team and they enjoy working at the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders and staff have a secure understanding of the correct procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child. Staff understand their role in child protection and safeguarding. Staff confidently describe the signs and symptoms of abuse and know who the designated lead officers for safeguarding are.

All staff receive safeguarding training updates at the start of the holiday club, ensuring they keep their knowledge current. Staff know the procedures to report any concerns about children or staff within the club. Robust risk assessments to ensure the premises are safe and staff suitability checks help to keep children safe and secure.

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