Atlas Camps Tewkesbury

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children report that they have great fun at the holiday camps, including those who are new to the setting. Children are very happy, receive excellent support from the enthusiastic staff team and enjoy their company.

The children of different ages, from different schools, play well together and are very well behaved. They form good friendships. Those who also attend the after-school club help those who are new to the setting to familiarise themselves with the school facilities.

Staff use what they know about each child to value, include and occupy them. They are exceptionally sensitive to children's emotional needs and offe...r extra support as needed. Staff use the daily morning briefing to introduce a well-planned variety of activities for the day.

They encourage children to offer ideas to customise activities, suggest team games and alternative activities to create an exciting range of experiences that children enjoy. Staff often use themes to enhance children's play experiences. For example, following the closing ceremony for the Olympics children made and decorated Olympic torches, suggested team face paint designs, and competed in mini-Olympic team sports.

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

Staff help the children to understand behavioural expectations extremely well. Children recall Atlas Camp's five values of 'teamwork, kindness, perseverance, honesty', and 'respect' and staff explain how they might achieve them. Children receive lots of meaningful praise and encouragement for their achievements from staff.

They are highly motivated to earn stickers to fill their 'values' book and gain a camp cap when filled. Children take pride in being selected to receive the daily 'All Star' certificate and medal.The staff team is very competent and enthusiastic in their roles.

They create a well-organised, fun, play environment and know instinctively when to take an active role in children's play and when to let them play freely. As a result of careful planning and skilled staff, all children engage in activities that interest and occupy them.The after-school provision runs as a 'mini-camp' with a similar range of planned activities.

Holiday camp activities include plenty of opportunities for children to be physically active, indoors and outdoors. For example, dodgeball is a firm favourite, as is hide and seek, and children excitedly await planned water-play games.Children who prefer quieter activities are well catered for and staff respond quickly when children do not want to join in planned activities.

They ask children what they would like to do and offer suggestions. They join in with children's chosen play and they chat happily together.Staff plan arts and crafts activities to nurture children's interests.

For example, children make bead bracelets, draw, colour and combine materials as they make Olympic torches. They add tissue flames and discuss what they know about Olympic events.All activities during the camp are on site.

Staff plan topical activities and invite visitors of interest, such as representatives from the Dogs Trust, Police and Fire Service. Children learn about healthy diets from a 'well-being' visitor. They play fun games to help them learn about different food groups.

Staff ensure that children drink plenty of water and are highly mindful of sun protection when planning outdoor play.Parents and carers give high praise to the staff and report that their children love attending. Children also say that they enjoy coming to the holiday club.

Parents appreciate the way that staff provide daily feedback about children's experiences, and well-being.The provider and senior management team have an excellent awareness of the quality of the provision. They implement an effective staffing structure and robust recruitment and induction processes.

They provide in-depth training for staff prior to each holiday camp and routinely check that staff maintain the knowledge and skills they need to fulfil their duties.Staff support children to learn to keep themselves safe. For example, staff practise fire drills with the children regularly to help them learn the emergency evacuation procedure.

Children line up quietly, listen attentively to staff instructions, leave the premises calmly and wait patiently during the roll call.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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