Allstar Community Academy - Lawford Mead

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are collected from school by staff.

They greet others warmly when they arrive at their base room. Children are happy, safe and comfortable in the environment. They show great interest in the toys and activities provided.

Children respond well to visiting adults and are happy to talk about what they are doing and what they like to play with. For example, they enjoy playing football and building models using small bricks.Children have lots of fun taking part in outdoor activities.

They are excited to use large play equipment, helping them to develop and refine their skills. Children are keen to have a go an...d show good levels of concentration and focus. They tentatively step from one moving piece of equipment onto another, demonstrating their growing balancing skills.

When they successfully make it to the other side, children show great pride in their achievement. Children enjoy plenty of praise from staff and are very pleased to receive this positive attention.Children are very well behaved.

They make friends easily and show that they are independent. They choose what they would like to do next and move freely between the indoor and outdoor environments.

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

The provider has a clear vision for the service she provides and is keen to provide good quality care for children.

She supports her staff and values the individual skills they bring. The provider places high importance on their well-being and holds regular individual and team meetings to support this. Staff are provided with updates and are also invited to share their own views and ideas.

Information is gathered from parents prior to children starting. This is given to staff who demonstrate a good understanding about the needs and backgrounds of each child in their care. Staff take the time to make certain children are provided with activities they enjoy.

They are always on hand to provide support to children if needed.Children have fun playing with dough. They problem solve when they realise the small plastic roller they are using is not strong enough to flatten the dough.

Children find a large wooden rolling pin and, showing great perseverance, roll it backwards and forwards until the dough is flattened to their satisfaction. Children are confident to correct adults who think they have made a 'duck', telling them it is a 'gosling'.Children take part in a wide range of interesting conversations with their peers and staff.

For example, they talk about their families and what they did at school today. Staff provide gentle reminders to help support children's understanding of how to keep safe. For instance, they explain that they are responsible for putting away activities, such as building bricks, when they have finished playing with them.

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They intervene, when needed, in disputes between children in order to sensitively help them to resolve any issues. For example, children are encouraged to successfully think things though and talk to each other.

Children are well behaved. They listen to staff and follow instructions very well. When children say please and thank you they are praised for their 'good manners'.

Parents comment that their children are 'excited to come here' and 'they have made good friends'. Parents talk about the 'fantastic job' staff are doing and that they 'show interest in the children'. Parents say they find staff 'approachable, warm' and 'very friendly'.

Risk assessments are completed in all areas used by the children and staff carry out daily safety checks. This helps to ensure the safety of children at all times.All staff working with children are subject to required checks.

This helps the provider to ensure they are safe to be around children. The provider ensures that all required documentation is in place, which further helps to promote the safe and efficient running of the service.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff are required to undertake safeguarding training. Their knowledge is regularly monitored, and updates are provided through discussion and as part of staff meetings. This supports staff to recognise when a child could be at risk of harm.

There is a designated safeguarding lead who is able to offer advice and support when needed. The provider and her staff show a clear understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as signs that children could be forming extreme opinions and ideas. There are secure systems in place for the arrival and collection of children.

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