Barracudas (Barnet)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Leaders and staff consistently implement the club procedures and routines to create a safe and welcoming environment for children. They gather detailed information from parents before children start, to help them cater for each child's individual needs.

For example, staff ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have appropriate support to participate in routines and activities. This attentive care helps children to feel happy, comfortable and secure. They build warm and positive relationships with staff and readily go to them for reassurance or help.

Staff have high expectations for children...'s behaviour and provide consistent reminders about rules and boundaries in the club. Children respond well to this clear guidance. They understand and follow established routines, such as putting away their belongings and being kind to their friends.

Staff offer a wide variety of experiences for children, which broaden their knowledge and skills and complement their learning at school. For example, children enjoy learning about the Olympic Games. They participate in a range of sports, which strengthens their physical skills.

Staff encourage children to think about healthy eating and how this helps them to be better athletes. Children talk about foods that give them energy. They have fun drawing their ideal healthy meal.

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

Leaders have good oversight of the club and ensure that they are on hand to support staff and guide their practice. Staff say that they feel valued and receive relevant supervision and training to equip them for their roles. For example, they attend an induction day before the start of camp, to update and refresh their understanding of club policies and procedures.

Staff provide activities which spark children's imaginations and foster positive attitudes to learning. For instance, children practise their critical thinking as they figure out how to connect large pieces of cardboard, to create buildings and enclosures. Staff encourage teamwork and praise children's efforts, which inspires children to persevere and try different methods.

They show great pride and satisfaction in their achievements.Children's physical health is promoted extremely well. Children have many opportunities to be active, such as swimming, football and an outdoor scavenger hunt.

Staff ensure that there are regular breaks for children to rest and refuel. They are mindful about children's welfare. For example, during hot weather staff provide shade outdoors and check that children's water bottles are continuously refreshed.

Staff are sensitive to children's emotional needs and provide opportunities for them to talk about their feelings. For instance, children use pictures of facial expressions, to indicate how they feel on arrival at the club. This helps staff to identify where children may need more support to feel at ease or join in with activities.

Staff are good role models. They are kind and approachable and provide a calm environment for children. As such, children learn to treat others with respect and to accept other views and ideas.

For example, children eagerly discuss the characters they create during a drawing activity. They listen to their friends' thoughts and cooperate to develop imaginative storylines.Leaders and staff establish good relationships with parents.

They listen to their views and work hard to keep them informed about their children's time at the club. Parents speak highly of the service and say their children thoroughly enjoy attending. Children also speak positively about the club.

They say the staff are nice, and they really like the activities.Staff complete thorough risk assessments of the club premises. This includes daily checks of the areas and equipment used by children.

Where a potential risk is identified, steps are taken to remove or reduce the hazard.

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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