Bardfield After School and Breakfast Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy to attend this inviting and friendly club.

They form close and trusting relationships with staff, who get to know them and their families well. Staff collect all children from their classes. They share key messages with the class teacher about children's day at school.

This helps children to settle into the club. They hang up their coats and sort out their belongings before setting off to play. The staff provide children with a good balance of adult-led activities and children's 'choice time'.

This helps children to play and explore their interests.Children have plenty of daily access to fresh a...ir as they play games on the field and playground. They develop their hand-eye coordination as they play tennis with staff.

This helps to develop children's large-muscle movements. Children roll out the play dough and squeeze it into shapes as they construct models. These opportunities help to develop children's small-muscle movements.

Staff set age-appropriate rules and expectations, which support children's good behaviour and promotes their safety. For example, staff talk to children about suitable activities for their age and how to safely use the outdoor climbing frame. Children are confident and show that they feel safe and secure through their positive behaviour.

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

This small staff team has clear roles and responsibilities and work well together to offer enjoyable experiences for children. They share important information with each other. They supervise children as they move onto different activities.

They communicate as a team, ensuring children are always supported by a familiar adult. The manager works directly with children and staff daily. The manager provides ongoing support and guidance to staff to build on their knowledge and skills.

Staff benefit from ongoing supervision sessions to support their well-being.Staff support children's speaking skills well. Children share their ideas and thoughts with confidence and happily talk about what they have done at school with their friends.

They listen to each other with interest. Staff engage in deep conversations with the children. They use these conversations to get to know about children's experiences and their home lives.

This is evident as they talk about their experiences of places they have visited and what they did over the weekend.Children understand the importance of following good hygiene routines. They wash their hands before snack.

Staff support children to make healthy choices. They offer a balanced diet at meal and snack times. Staff encourage children to try different fruits and vegetables.

Children benefit from the staff knowing them well. Staff provide opportunities for the children linked to their interests. They recognise when some children have been at school and then at the club and need to relax, so they provide a cosy area where children can sit and watch a film.

Staff listen to children. They ask children for ideas about the types of activities they would like to do. Staff help children remain engaged by setting challenges.

For example, children have a competition to design the longest marble run. They show resilience as they work out the best method to make a loop to slow the marble down.Staff are positive role models.

They encourage children to use good manners and praise them. This helps to build children's self-esteem.Children have access to computer games and the television.

Although they do not have access to the internet at the club, staff share safer internet practices with children. They check the time spent on the devices and help children to understand how to keep safe online.The manager and staff build strong relationships with parents and carers.

Parents report that communication is good. They state the 'care is excellent', and their children feel 'safe, happy and confident'.The managers support staff to extend their professional development.

Staff complete mandatory training, such as safeguarding and first aid, to help them to update their knowledge about how to keep children safe.

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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