Ark Atwood Play Centre

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are warmly welcomed into the setting by the friendly and experienced staff team.

Children who have attended before are excited to see familiar friends and members of staff. Staff ensure that new children are supported to integrate quickly. This positive start to the day helps children to settle well.

Children confidently take an active role in the holiday camp. They make independent decisions about their play. For example, they choose if they would like to participate in sports, or join in with arts and craft activities.

Children behave well. They happily share resources with their friends and take turns ...when playing games. The youngest children politely seek guidance from staff when they are unsure.

Staff consistently provide encouragement to children and praise their good behaviour. This motivates children to be respectful to others. Children are happy and relaxed at the club.

There are plenty of activities and experiences to keep them occupied throughout the day. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure with their positive attitudes, their relationships with others and their enthusiastic participation.

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

All children have access to a range of activities throughout the day.

Children can suggest activities for the following day or request activities that they have previously enjoyed. This ensures that children can make choices about their learning and take an active role in planning the sessions.Staff seek and value children's views and opinions.

After staff have recorded children's attendance, children raise their hands to remind each other of the club rules. For example, they remember not to run in the downstairs room, to be kind to their friends and to put the tops back on pens. This helps to give children a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Children are polite and courteous towards others. They use 'please' and 'thank you' when they interact with staff and their friends. Staff are good role models; they speak gently to children and treat them with respect.

This helps children to understand the behaviour expected of them at the club.Staff are kind and get to know children well. They are mindful that some children, especially the youngest, may need extra support or reassurance.

They make sure to check in on them on a regular basis and help them access all the opportunities on offer.Parents are highly complimentary of the club and the staff team. They say that their children 'can't wait to go to the club' and that they come home with stories about the fun they have had.

Parents comment that they are concerned about the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their children's mental health. They say that they are pleased with how well the holiday club has supported their children's social and emotional well-being.Staff gather the information they need from parents to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully included and supported.

The manager has plans to further staff's good practice with more training opportunities for staff to support children with SEND. She identifies that this will maintain and strengthen the positive and inclusive ethos of the setting.Managers conduct regular supervision sessions and appraisals with staff to identify areas for development.

Staff receive additional training to improve their knowledge and skills. This supports them to deliver high-quality care for children.The staff team run an after-school club on the same premises during term times.

The manager says it is important that the holiday club and the after-school club support children to relax and socialise with others. This approach gives children plenty of opportunities to develop their social skills and build friendships.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff receive regular safeguarding training, and they have a good knowledge of child protection issues. Staff, including students and volunteers, understand their responsibilities with regard to child protection. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare or colleague's conduct.

Leaders implement robust recruitment and induction procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff have a secure knowledge of health and safety. They carry out regular risk assessments of the club and supervise children well in all areas.

Also at this postcode