Barracudas (Ripley)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive at the camp with their parents and receive a warm welcome from staff.

Children are eager to begin their day and find out about the plans for the activities. Staff adapt the plan for the next day depending on activities, children's likes and interests. Children also like having the choice of activities during each one-hour slot.

This enables them to have a voice and make decisions, which staff are respectful of. Staff share the daily timetable with parents and children, and this enables them to talk about their experiences. Children have daily opportunities to mix with the other children in differing age-gro...up rooms.

This enables siblings and friends to sit together at mealtimes, for example, and to catch up about their activities and experiences from the day.Children develop secure relationships with each other and the staff team. Each child is allocated to an age- and stage appropriate group.

This helps them to make friends with children of similar ages, abilities, and interests. Children sit and chat with each other at snack and mealtimes and share experiences. Children happily talk about their favourite activities.

For example, they animatedly explain that they loved the bouncy castle yesterday and that they look forward to swimming sessions. Children remain engaged throughout their day. Staff facilitate their interests and understand when it is time to move on to another activity or game.

This helps children to be focused and behave well. There is a clear focus on supporting children to be confident and having a strong sense of belonging at the club. Staff effortlessly encourage this and fully adopt positive behaviour management techniques.

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

The managers and staff plan and provide a wealth of activities and experiences for children at the holiday camp. They make effective use of the site to offer sports and fun games, making children's school holidays fun and exciting. The early years manager completely understands their role and responsibilities in supporting the youngest children.

They recognise how children develop and how to support staff to encourage learning through their enjoyment of the activities.There is a clear induction, training and support system in place for staff. This enables them to understand their differing roles and responsibilities.

Staff follow the intent and ethos of the camp, building a strong sense of community and developing positive attitudes and relationships. Staff report that there are high levels of support for them. They explain how all staff have 'great connections' and that the setting has a friendly atmosphere where staff feel valued.

Children understand rules in place for their safety. Staff are effective role models and children follow their calm and friendly lead. For example, when having a story time, staff gently remind children to listen and point to their ear.

This quickly quietens children and re-engages them in their enjoyment of the story.Children show a clear knowledge of healthy lifestyles and actively engage in activities that staff base around this. For example, they talk through the healthy options in the story of the 'Hungry Caterpillar' and the impact of treats and food items not as good for us.

Children engage with staff about good oral hygiene and highlight the slight differences in their teeth cleaning habits.Children have plenty of time to practise the skills they have already developed. For instance, they re-write the story of the 'Hungry Caterpillar' and show great pencil control and understanding of letters and their sounds.

They also use scissors with ease and show an understanding of how to do this safely.There are clear and effective risk assessments, which staff complete at the start of each camp and review daily. Staff are completely aware of the procedures in place for safety for specific activities, including karting and swimming.

Additional trained staff, such as lifeguards, are also on site to keep children safe during the activities.Children thoroughly enjoy role play and pretend to be doctors, checking the health and well-being of staff and each other. They also bake at the pizzeria, taking orders for takeaway.

Children understand about needing to pay for the pizza and work out the change due to their customers.There is clear support in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. They have systems in place to help children understand what is happening now and next.

They source translators when needed to aid children to be part of the community at the camp.

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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