Barracudas - Canterbury St Ed

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive happy and confident to this warm and welcoming camp. Children are highly motivated and engaged in the exciting experiences offered to them, including swimming, art class, science experiments and go-karting. Children are confident to talk and have their opinions or views heard.

Each group has their own breakout room for their age, which gives children a sense of belonging and security. Children demonstrate strong knowledge of what they have already found out during an 'Under the Sea' topic. For example, during a group time, children explain that whales do not need to brush their teeth to get rid of bacteria, as small...er fish do this for them.

Children's behaviours and attitudes are exemplary. They demonstrate good turn-taking. For example, when waiting for their turn, they raise their hand if they wish to speak.

Team rules are embedded at the beginning of each session. This helps children understand the expectations during their time at the camp. Children show pride in their achievements.

This is demonstrated when they successfully hit the ball during a game of rounders, and enthusiastically show staff the sea creature creations they have made in art class. Independence in young children is promoted by staff, who are strong role models. For example, children self-register upon arrival before placing their belongings away.

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

Leaders and managers ensure there are robust procedures in place to ensure the safety of all children. This includes completing a daily risk assessment and quality assurance checks on activities and equipment used. Leaders also provide specialist training for certain staff to allow children to gain access to new experiences and skills such as archery, swimming and riding motorised vehicles.

Leaders put in place effective arrangements so that staff, children and parents have a clear understanding of different roles. For example, lifeguards, management and room practitioners wear different-coloured tops. This helps provide a sense of security for all.

Parents confidently remark on how friendly and professional all staff are at the summer camp. They state how warm, inviting and inclusive the environment is, offering a large array of activities for children to engage with. They feel it is a place where children are safe, loved and ultimately having fun.

Parents are well informed through a variety of ways, including blogs, daily communication sheets and photos displayed of each day's fun activities. This allows parents to have regular updates and be fully informed.There is a clear, robust process for recruitment, vetting and induction of all staff.

This ensures that staff are suitable for the role and confident to fulfil it to the best of their ability. All staff have access to relevant training. This ensures children are safe and allows them to access the extensive activities on offer.

Information on children is gathered before the child joins, giving staff the best knowledge of each child while in their care. This includes strong procedures in place if a child requires medication. This enables staff to appropriately plan and prepare activities based on children's interests.

Children enjoy having the choice of two activities for each session. This tends to include one creative activity or a visit to the forest school, and then a more physical activity in the outdoor environment.Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour, manners and conduct.

Staff use consistent, successful strategies to promote positive behaviour. Children demonstrate these attributes by listening attentively to staff and following instructions. They raise their hand if they wish to speak, line up patiently when going from one activity to another and show respect towards staff and their peers.

Children are independent in their self-care such as toileting, handwashing and dressing/undressing themselves. Healthy eating is promoted with clear conversations to parents in regard to portion control and healthy items. This ensures children have access to a balanced and healthy diet at the camp and access to drinks bottles throughout the day.

These are taken into the outdoor environment when accessing activities to make sure children are suitably hydrated.

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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