Active Camps @ Kings Canterbury School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive eager to start their day at this well-organised holiday club.

They are welcomed by the friendly and enthusiastic staff, who help them to settle quickly. Children are happy to approach staff for guidance or help, showing that they feel secure at the setting. Their behaviour is calm and relaxed.

Children use polite manners throughout the session. Staff are good role models and they generate an atmosphere of respect and kindness throughout the club. Children enjoy a varied schedule of activities, both indoors and outdoors at this club.

The activity programme is balanced with regular opportunities for ...quiet periods, where children can choose independently from activities, such as building blocks or puzzles. Staff pay attention to children's views and set out activities that children have expressed an interest in, such as crafts and drawing. During team building games, younger children talk about their drawings saying, 'it's Elsa's frozen castle' or 'a monster truck'.

Staff skilfully use rhymes during active games, such as 'Froggy, Froggy Can I Cross the Water', to further develop children's communication skills. Children are offered many opportunities to move around and be active in the fresh air. They enhance their physical development, playing in the extensive and well-equipped school grounds.

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

Management has created an active provision that is fully inclusive of all children's needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Prior to children starting the camp, staff gather a wealth of information from parents about their children's individual medical and dietary needs. This helps them to ensure consistency, so that children's health and well-being are fully protected.

Staff interactions with children are of a high quality. Children happily laugh and chat with staff about their families and pets. They approach staff with confidence, asking questions, or when they wish to have their needs met.

Children socialise well with both their peers and staff and often hold hands with them as they walk between activities. They demonstrate close and secure bonds with staff.Staff implement effective procedures to encourage young children's independence and self-care.

For instance, children use the toilet independently and wash their hands before meals.Staff provide children with opportunities to be creative. For example, younger children make chicks from handprints and paint.

They add eyes, wings, and feet to create a 'happy, yellow chick'. Older children learn how to keep themselves safe when making slime. Children share their creations with visitors, showing a sense of pride in what they have achieved.

Staff demonstrate their enjoyment while working at the club and are well supported by managers. They take part in regular supervision sessions, which help them to further improve their practice. Staff are encouraged to access professional development opportunities.

Leaders explain that the programme of professional development is one of their priorities, ensuring that all staff access relevant training that is suited to their individual need and the needs of the children.Parents value the service that is provided. They appreciate the information given to them.

For example, parents are sent daily updates to share information about the achievements their children make while in holiday club. The management team is proactive in evaluating the provision to ensure ongoing improvement. They are considering the inclusion of parents' feedback to help raise the quality of the club to an even higher standard.

Children have lots of positive comments about holiday club. They enthusiastically share details of the activities which they enjoy taking part in. For example, 'I like the Mr Wolf game'.

Staff involve the children in planning the club activities to create the routine for the day and this develops a sense of belonging.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of how to keep children safe.

They know about the different types of abuse and the signs and symptoms. Staff also understand the procedures to follow if they feel a child is at risk of harm. They also understand the importance of whistle-blowing and the procedures they must follow.

Leaders and staff communicate effectively with one another to ensure children are safely supervised when moving around the site. Staff complete regular headcounts and they share key information via walkie-talkies to all staff throughout the day. Managers use a robust recruitment process and probationary period to ensure that new staff are suitable to work with children.

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