Barracudas (Letchworth)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children demonstrate they are happy, safe and secure in the club. Children build good relationships with staff, and they are excited to see them back at the club upon returning.

The youngest children benefit from a strong key-person system. Games created, and time spent in the base room in the morning, allow staff to spend time with their key children and build their relationships. This helps develop children's confidence.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff create clear rules and values with the children and refer to these as and when needed. The oldest children are offered freedom within the rules of the club and ca...n move between events independently.

This provides them with a level of responsibility which is well respected by the children. Children arrive at the club excited for the day. They point to the information board and talk to their parents about what is planned for their day.

When visitors enter the base room, children are confident to talk to them about their favourite activities. Staff support children to develop relationships with other children in their base group. They play games and complete icebreakers, learning about each other.

Staff talk of the lovely friendships, which are created over time.

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

Staff within the club know the children very well. Information is gathered about the youngest children's likes, dislikes and interests, so activities can meet the needs of the children.

Within the club, children can make choices about what they would like to do. For example, the day is divided up into activity hours. At each interval, there is a physical activity like football and a quieter activity, such as a nature walk.

Children discuss how much they enjoy being able to make choices.Children can take part in additional extension activities, such as 'Discovery club'. At the activity, children make exploding volcanoes.

Staff encourage children to make predictions about what might happen when they add vinegar. At times when the experiment does not go to plan, children laugh. They talk about how they could make it work, independently adding additional ingredients.

The club provides children with a wide range of activities and experiences throughout the week. Activities such as swimming, fencing and football support children's physical development. During the nature walk, children excitedly run to the staff to show them the bird's egg they have found.

Working together they create a nest for it to lie in. Children spend a long time focusing on this.All children are welcomed into the club, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Parents share knowledge of children's needs and staff gather information on how to support them. Staff talk confidently about the strategies put into place and how they ensure all children can access all activities. The manager explains that additional staff are, at times, provided as required.

The environment is safe. Staff have walkie-talkies to talk among the club team and allow them to ask for additional help when children require first aid or need to go to the bathroom. All gates around the grounds are kept closed.

Staff talk of their love of working at the club. Many staff return to the club year after year, which demonstrates their enjoyment. Staff discuss how the training and experiences they gain from the club supports their own professional development.

Parents talk highly of the club. They express how much their children enjoy attending, which they state as parents is so important during the holidays. Parents praise the staff and the relationships they build with the children.

The manager of the club works closely with the whole club team. Staff are confident to go to the manager if they have any issues, concerns or worries and they work together to solve them. Leaders model good practice to newer staff members and offer guidance on how to support children.

Children are at the heart of everything the club does.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of how to keep children safe and protected from harm.

They clearly explain the robust procedures they would take should they have any concerns about children's welfare. Staff are confident to report any concerns to professionals outside of the club. All staff attend mandatory safeguarding training prior to the club opening for the summer.

Staff are aware of issues which might affect the wide age range of children, particularly the oldest children at the club. The management conducts robust recruitment processes. Risk assessments ensure that the holiday club premises are always safe for children.

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