Barracudas Hertford Presdales

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy attending this vibrant holiday setting. Children of all age groups have a base room, helping them to feel secure, comfortable and settled.

Staff use many ways to get to know the children. For example, through talking with them, observing their drawings and using information from parents. Staff use this knowledge to make sure children are comfortable and have interesting play opportunities.

Children persevere in this exceptionally positive environment, where staff are always available to offer support and encouragement. For instance, children work together to stack beakers. They persevere, cheering... each other on and celebrating when they succeed.

Staff are excellent role models and children reflect their positive attitudes. They are excited about the activities and behave exceptionally well. For example, they readily organise fair sharing.

Staff understand children's needs and plan ahead to ensure that all children are included. For example, children refer to a visual timetable and use this to help them make independent choices about the activities they would like to try. Practical routines aid children in understanding safety.

For instance, children listen intently to safety instructions before participating in activities. These clear explanations, alongside robust risk assessments, mean that children safely participate in higher risk activities, such as archery and 'motorsports'. Children develop their independence skills, for example, as they dress themselves in safety suits before the motorsports activity.

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

Managers and staff fully understand the setting's ethos of supporting every child, so that they fully enjoy their school holidays and look forward to coming back to the setting. Staff work hard to make every child feel comfortable and welcome. In turn, the management team offers staff excellent support, enabling them to enjoy their work and review and develop their practice.

The management team are conscientious in evaluating all areas of the setting's work. They seek feedback from children and parents, acting on this to continue to improve their service. They assess all activities, reviewing what went well and where further changes can be made.

For example, they observe the physical location of activities and note how they could change this to improve children's experience.Highly pertinent training and support means that staff fully understand how to present each activity and how to adapt it for individual children. This ensures that every child can participate and enjoy their chosen activity.

They gain numerous skills, for example, as they learn to work together, follow instructions, develop control and coordination and ask for help when needed. Staff continuously assess children, offering additional challenge and support at appropriate times.Staff take great care in getting to know the children and understanding their personalities and needs.

This sensitive attention means that children quickly become confident and enjoy the activities. They readily try new experiences, knowing that staff understand them and are there to support whenever needed. For example, young children beam with pride as they learn to steer and manoeuvre motorised go-karts.

Opportunities such as these build children's self-esteem and help them gain confidence to try new experiences.Staff speak clearly to children, repeating instructions and making sure children understand these. Children are confident and develop their good language skills as they play and talk to one another.

For example, children organise a role-play shop. They decide who will work in the shop and who will be a customer. They explain their play, giggling with delight as they pretend to make an ice cream and state 'this will cost all the money in the world because it's so big.'

Throughout each session, children have many opportunities that aid them in understanding differences. Staff support children to recognise their strengths, understand we are all different and respect one another's views, strengths and needs.Staff build friendly, professional relationships with parents.

They communicate well with them, for example, through daily discussions, letters and the displaying of a practical timetable. Parents state that they are very happy with the setting and appreciate the wide variety of activities on offer. Children tell the inspector that they enjoy attending, stating it is one of their 'best places'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The management team and staff demonstrate a secure knowledge of safeguarding. They recognise the importance of swiftly noting any possible welfare concerns in a child's life and reporting these without delay to the correct professional.

They complete regular training to update their knowledge and to help them understand wider safeguarding issues, such as the risks related to associating with extreme views and practices. Staff understand the possible dangers linked to use of the internet. They take effective steps to protect children and to help them understand how to keep themselves safe.

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