Ashley Down After School Club - Brunel Field

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements The manager and leader are knowledgeable and ensure the club is well organised and inviting. Children arrive happy and enthusiastic for the session ahead of them. Staff greet them with warmth and excitement, and there is a clear ethos of mutual respect and kindness.

Children enjoy established routines that allow them to have a healthy range of snacks with their friends and then choose from a wide range of activities, both indoors and outdoors. Children enjoy quieter activities, such as playing with toy dinosaurs, magnetic blocks and puzzles, as well as physical play activities such as football and a climbing wall. Children are deep...ly engaged in their chosen play and activities.

They play harmoniously and children of all ages are well behaved and considerate of each other.Children speak to new adults with confidence and are keen to explain why they enjoy attending the provision so much. They speak of the kindness of staff and the choices they have over their activities.

They feel they can offer ideas when choosing new foods to try at snack time and feel they are really listened to by staff if they have any questions or need help. Children speak excitedly about how staff play alongside them and this is clear from the eagerness shown to interact with them.

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

Staff know the children very well, and the trusting relationships formed help children to feel safe and welcome.

Staff speak with children about recent important events in their lives, such as sporting events and birthday parties. Children clearly feel cared for.Staff encourage children's emotional well-being.

They recognise children's achievements and praise them. For example, they praise children's efforts when using scissors to create paper jewellery. Staff also acknowledge the care shown by older children towards the younger ones and praise this.

Children thrive here. They enjoy playing in mixed-age groups. Younger children blossom under the help and encouragement shown by older children, whether it be completing craft activities, playing with the small-world resources or using the walkie-talkies outside to devise imaginative secret missions with each other.

Communication with parents is excellent. Parents are extremely complimentary about the club and the approachable and friendly staff. Staff gather good information from parents about their children.

For example, they find out about children's likes and dislikes, family members and any medical needs to ensure children are fully supported. When parents collect children, many children wish to stay longer as they are enjoying themselves so much. Parents are delighted to see this and speak of how happy they are to have this provision on the school site.

Staff are excellent role models and respond promptly to requests from children for help or support. Children's behaviour reflects the care and respect they receive from staff. Children listen carefully to staff when asked to follow instructions or help tidy the setting.

Children and staff all show real pride in the provision.The provider ensures staff access a range of training opportunities. These include attending behaviour management courses.

This helps build on staff's knowledge of the various ways they can support children's physical and emotional needs.The provider supports staff well. Regular appraisals and supervision meetings, alongside useful feedback, help them develop as professionals.

Staff feel valued and appreciated.Staff promote values of tolerance, democracy and respect through their interactions with the children. When supporting children with solving problems and conflicts in play, staff listen to all children's opinions and voices and skilfully ensure cooperative, friendly play quickly re-emerges.

Staff involve children in managing and understanding risk. For example, they speak with them about not running inside or standing on benches outside. Staff ensure the children have a real understanding of the reasons why these actions could be unsafe.

Staff support children's understanding of being healthy effectively. They speak about the importance of fresh air and physical activity. Staff use snack time to promote independence.

For example, children confidently spread their own butter on crackers and select toppings.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The club has its own secure area within the school site.

Staff communicate effectively with school staff. They gather important information about children's individual needs each day. This helps them to recognise potential risks to children's health or emotional well-being.

Staff monitor who enters the area well. Risks to children are minimised. Staff are careful to check who is present when children move between school and the club at the start of each session.

Staff are confident of their role and responsibility to keep children safe and are familiar with the signs and symptoms that may indicate abuse. All staff keep up to date with child protection training. Staff know the reporting procedures for the local authority should they have concerns about a child's welfare.