Bassingbourn Out Of School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy attending this welcoming and inclusive club. They enter excitedly and quickly become engaged in the wide range of activities. There are plenty of exciting resources that are appropriate for the different ages of children who attend, linked to their individual interests.

All children are involved with the decision-making about the activities and experiences that are provided. During school-holiday periods, children benefit from weekly outings or additional experiences, such as pottery or mini golf. Children feel valued and develop a sense of ownership of their club.

Children have a wonderful time s...cooping out the insides of pumpkins and they explore the texture of the seeds and pulp with their hands. Staff skilfully extend children's play as they add other ingredients to the pulp. This stimulates children's vivid imagination as they use this to create 'ocean-emotion potions' and explain how the mermaids are going to drink it.

Children are extremely kind to each other. They welcome friends to join their game of hide and seek, and patiently wait their turn to use their chosen colour on the paint pallet. Children develop a strong understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

They eagerly help staff to sweep up leaves that surround play equipment.

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

Children behave impeccably at all times. They treat each other, the staff and the environment with great respect.

For example, they consistently use good manners, know not to speak when they have food in their mouths and consistently tidy away what they have finished playing with. The club's 'we are all superheroes' rules, created by children are highly effective in promoting their self-esteem and understanding of expectations. Children know to go to the 'safe zone' if needed, where staff will help them regulate their feelings.

Children's physical health is exceptionally well supported. Staff aim to encourage every child to spend a minimum of 1000 hours outdoors over the period of a year. Children benefit from many opportunities to be physically active and confidently learn to assess their own risks.

They demonstrate strength and stamina as they hang from bars, securely suspended from trees, and dance to Halloween-themed music. Staff provide a varied range of healthy foods. Mealtimes are a social occasion, where staff sit with children and engage in meaningful discussions.

Excellent partnerships with the headteacher of the host school and children's teachers are in place. Highly effective arrangements ensure a two-way flow of information, which means that staff complement the knowledge children gain from school. Staff have a superb understanding of the needs of individual children and provide opportunities for them to complete homework or read with staff at the club.

Staff are positive role models. Children show strong attachments towards the dedicated staff team, a majority of whom work in the host school. Staff and children laugh together as they lay down in fallen leaves and move their arms and legs to create patterns.

These nurturing relationships support children to feel secure and self-assured.Children have very good opportunities to develop an awareness of the wider world they live in. Staff ensure that all children are encouraged to take part in activities, regardless of age or gender.

They actively encourage discussions to challenge stereotypes when opportunities arise. Children develop a positive attitude of diverse identities and a strong acceptance for all.The inspirational manager and staff team are highly reflective and have a clear vision for the club.

They regularly consult with children and families to influence the improvements that they make. The manager conducts regular supervision meetings with staff. She supports them to continue to build on their knowledge and skills.

The manager visits other clubs to share good practice, to enable more children to benefit from a high-quality provision.Parents are extremely complimentary about the wide range of activities that the club offers and the care that their children receive. They value the level of communication provided by the club.

Parents say that their children 'love attending'. They describe the staff as 'caring' and how they 'trust them implicitly'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The manager and staff have a secure knowledge of the signs that a child may be at risk of harm and the procedures to follow. They are confident with the procedures to follow should they have a concern about the manager or a staff member's conduct. Robust recruitment procedures are followed, and staff understand their responsibility to disclose any changes that may affect their suitability to work with children.

Staff use innovative ideas, such as regularly supporting children to complete drawings of people that make up their 'safe circle'. This helps staff to identify any concerns about children's welfare. Staff follow strict procedures when dealing with children's long-term medication and/or allergies children have.

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