Barracudas Hemel

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children demonstrate that they enjoy their time at the club. They are greeted bywelcoming staff on their arrival and escorted to their base room within the school building. Children explore a good range of age-appropriate resources and participate in planned activities.

They quickly settle and make new friends with their peers. For example, children work together during 'big box challenge' activities. They enjoy creating and decorating large structures, such as rockets and houses out of cardboard boxes.

Additionally, children develop their hand-to-eye coordination skills as they carefully stack wooden bricks on top of one ...another to make tall towers.Children have fun and thoroughly enjoy practising and refining a range of different circus skills. They concentrate as they learn to balance and spin plastic plates on poles, and are shown by the staff how to use juggling props, such as the diabolos.

Children use their physical skills to peddle and manoeuvre wheeled toys and enjoy playing football. They bounce on the bouncy castle and enthusiastically participate in dance and drama sessions. Children use their imaginations as make pizza on the pretend oven and build the train track.

They look at books for enjoyment and complete craft activities, such as pottery. Children also have opportunities to learn new skills, such as archery and fencing, and have fun participating in water play activities on the aqua slide.

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

Management and staff working at the club strive to provide a safe, inclusive environment where children can have fun during the school holidays.

They successfully continue to guide young children's learning and development through the range of activities provided.Staff undergo sound induction procedures, which ensures they are clear about their roles and responsibilities. This includes the completion of safeguarding children and risk assessment training.

Additionally, some members of staff complete enhanced training to support specific activities, such as water play, motor sports and archery. Managers spend time in base rooms and outdoor activities areas, which enables them to observe staff practice and how children spend their time.Children are actively supported to become familiar with the routines and expectations of the club.

At the start of each week, children practise fire evacuation procedures and are shown the areas they will be using within the school grounds. This supports them to become familiar with their surroundings, to blend as a group and to understand the procedures which support them to stay safe. Staff talk about camp rules and how children can become the 'Minnow' of the day, for example by trying new activities, cheering for their friends and helping one another.

Staff quickly develop an awareness of each child's personalities, behaviours and preferences. They are attentive towards the children's needs and interact with them as they play. Children are praised for their achievements, which promotes their confidence effectively and encourages them to persist with their chosen activity.

They seek reassurance and ask for help if needed.Staff act as positive role models. They remind children of the rules and boundaries of the club.

For example, children demonstrate that they understand why only four children are allowed on the bouncy castle at any one time, to ensure they remain safe. Children also learn the importance of being kind to one another, and to listen, wait their turn and use good manners. They listen and follow instructions well.

Parents are provided with a good range of information about the camp. This is available on the provision's website and on the notice board held at the camp. Additionally, information is obtained from parents to support continuity in the children's care.

For example, emergency contact details and information about known medical conditions or dietary requirements is obtained before a child attends the camp.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Management and staff demonstrate a secure understanding of the procedures to keep children safe.

They recognise different types of abuse, including wider safeguarding concerns, such as the risks of children being radicalised. Staff know how to report any concerns they may have about a child in their care. This includes what action to take if an allegation of abuse is made against a member of staff.

Management follows secure recruitment procedures and background checks to ensure all staff are suitable to work with children. Children are closely supervised at all times. Daily risk assessment checks are completed to ensure the premises and equipment used by the children are safe.

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