Atlas Camps Longford

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive at the camp eager to see what is on offer, deciding for themselves what to engage with indoors and outside. Children of all ages are happy and confident, owing to the very good relationships with the friendly staff.

Staff respect children's different backgrounds and have a good understanding of their individual needs. Children's behaviour is excellent. They listen carefully to the staff's clear instructions, given for each activity to help keep everyone safe and happy.

Children are very caring and sociable. They confidently approach visitors to ask them questions and ask if they are thirsty on a hot day. Ch...ildren enjoy being independent, for instance as they work together to set up for a table tennis tournament.

Staff and children sit together at mealtimes and during activities, creating a lovely family atmosphere. Staff listen patiently to children's amazing fantasy stories and made-up songs and make appreciative comments, such as 'Thank you, I loved that, it was awesome', making children feel listened to and very special. Children access the outdoors everyday giving them fresh air and vigorous exercise.

Staff help extend their physical skills as they play dodge ball in the spacious school hall. For those children who wish to relax, staff ensure they always create a comfortable 'chill-out' zone children can use at anytime.

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

Enthusiastic staff consistently play with the children, promoting sharing and taking turns.

They ensure all children are included in activities if they wish to be. Children concentrate and explore the range art and craft activities and boxed games on offer. Older children happily help younger children to join in with them, for instance one said, 'Don't worry, I can teach you to do loom bands', and played along together well.

In the hall, children organised themselves nicely into two teams and had enormous fun using foam dart guns. Children are very confident and develop a positive sense of achievement.Staff are excellent role models for the children.

They are polite and courteous and offer lots of praise and encouragement as children try new things. For example, they say, 'It's a good option to try' and 'Good job, have another go'. Therefore, children of all ages are keen to keep trying and learn new skills.

This abundance of praise children receive builds on their confidence, boosts their self-esteem and reinforces their positive behaviour.Children immerse themselves in creative activities. Older children enjoy using stencils and cutting and sticking for an ongoing art project.

Younger children proudly show off their pictures of 'Disney' characters, such as 'Micky and Minnie Mouse', drawn with a huge variety of felt-tips pens.Staff work well to ensure children's safety and well-being at all times. For example, they gather detailed information from parents to support children's individual care and dietary needs effectively throughout their time at the camp.

Children learn about healthy lifestyles and develop good levels of independence, such as filling up their own water bottles and using anti-bacterial gel regularly to help stop the risk of infection. Staff provide a variety of interesting physical and creative experiences for children outdoors. All children make choices about what they want to do and when they wish to join in.

Leaders reflect on the camp and use feedback from parents, staff and children to identify strengths and areas for improvement. At inspection, the manager spoke about the benefits of recent training to boost his knowledge and understanding of the early years foundation stage to enhance the already excellent care of Reception-aged children.Staff make sure they keep children very safe.

They implement effective risk assessments and checks for the premises and activities, and consistently talk with children about their personal safety. For instance, children know they must wear protective goggles to play with the foam dart guns and remind each other to do so. Others immediately apologised to their friends when they accidentally fired their gun in excitement before the game had started.

Staff receive regular supervision meetings to promote their professional development. For example, leaders support staff with training opportunities to extend safeguarding, child protection and first-aid knowledge. Staff speak daily and meet regularly to discuss and evaluate all aspects of the camp, including information gained from parents' questionnaires and any contributions received from their children.

Action plans to improve all areas of the camp are ongoing, and effective, including the update of risk assessments for the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.This professional team give children's welfare and safety the utmost priority.

Leaders embed child protection policies and procedures, and these are thoroughly understood by all staff. They are vigilant, alert and extremely confident in the procedure to follow should they have concerns about a child in their care. They know what to do in the event of an allegation against a member of staff.

The procedure for the arrival and departure of children is effective in ensuring that children continue to be safe at all times. Staff record all accidents and incidents, and the manager reviews the record to identify and minimise any repeated risks to children. Excellent recruitment and vetting procedures ensure all adults working with the children are suitable.

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