Alma Park Kids Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this vibrant and exciting out-of-school club.

They access a wealth of stimulating activities and are very eager to join in. Many activities are planned to complement children's learning at school. For example, children enjoy playing with props and reading stories about the Gruffalo.

They are able to relax and unwind in the comfortable book area after a busy day at school. At other times, they play in the school grounds, which are superbly equipped and offer different opportunities for children to be physically active. During the school holidays, children take part in forest school ac...tivities.

Staff also take children on outings to enrich their love of outdoor learning. There is a strong focus on inclusion. All children, including those with special educational needs, are welcome.

Staff provide skilled support and adapt activities so that children can actively participate. They work closely with parents and take on board any advice from professionals. As a result, children are fully included.

Children are well behaved. They show respect for each other and have great fun learning about differences. For example, they learn about festivals such as Chinese New Year.

Children also developed their creativity by making Ramadan and Christmas advent calendars. This helped them to recognise similarities in how they count down to these big celebrations.

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

The managers and staff work well as a team.

They have excellent relationships with children and strive to ensure that they are happy and settled at the club. Staff also work in partnership with the local schools. This provides continuity in children's care and learning.

Children have ample opportunity to celebrate their achievements at school. Each session at the club starts with a circle time where children can share their daily news. Children are eager to join in.

They listen and show respect for each other as they share their news. Staff also join in by offering lots of encouragement and support to children, which boosts their confidence.Staff have forged highly effective partnerships with parents, who are very happy with the club.

They speak highly of the staff and appreciate the flexible childcare they provide. Parents say how much their children enjoy coming to the club and typical comments include 'my child does not want to come home'.The managers and staff have high aspirations for the club.

They continually reflect on the effectiveness of their provision and set achievable targets. Their priorities are focused on children. For example, staff understand the importance of reading and how this will help children in later life.

To support this, they purchased lots of books so children can experience the joy of reading in the club. The managers support staff well and ensure that they receive appropriate training. Recent training has included sign language to help staff further enhance their communication with children.

Staff provide lots of stimulating activities that keep children motivated and engaged. For example, children pretend to be doctors in the role-play area. They play imaginatively with the dinosaurs and use pencils and felt-tip pens to draw pictures of healthy foods.

Staff involve children in all aspects of the club. Children have designed the snack menu, which includes lots of healthy foods such as hummus and wholemeal pitta bread. Children also take responsibility for preparing their own snacks.

They manage this task extremely well and use the cutlery skilfully. Children are highly independent.Children's transitions from school into the club are managed very well.

Staff collect children from four local schools. They complete risk assessments and ensure that children are supervised at all times. Children adhere to the rules.

For example, they know they need to wear high-visibility jackets when they are playing outside 'because it's dark and somebody might fall over you'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good awareness of child protection and the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a child's welfare.

They keep their knowledge up to date through relevant training. Staff have also updated their policies to include a lockdown procedure. Staff talk to children about e-safety and how to keep themselves safe online.

This complements children's learning at school. All required checks are completed on staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. All staff are qualified to administer first aid, which protects children in the event of an accident.

Also at this postcode