Beams of Light After School Care

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children receive a warm and friendly welcome from staff.

They separate from their carers with ease, and confidently walk into the club. They show growing independence as they self-serve meals and highlight their understanding of healthy practices while washing their hands. Staff provide activities that are carefully thought out, so they meet the needs of the children who attend.

Children show delight as they play imaginatively with small-world dinosaurs and cars. They show their perseverance and determination as they construct with Lego pieces. Children benefit from activities to support their physical development.
.../>Staff create a mini gym and sports games such as football where children develop spatial awareness.Creativity is encouraged through role play, art and baking activities, where children proudly show off their masterpieces. Children know and follow the routine well; they respond to prompts from staff to tidy and line up.

Children have formed good relationships with staff and peers, confidently sharing stories about their personal lives. They play cooperatively alongside others, sharing resources and behave extremely well. Staff model manners and children showcase their politeness.

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

Staff have created a calm and welcoming atmosphere, where children can develop their confidence and language skills. They provide mark making and creative activities that are age-appropriate and staff regularly adapt activities as children play. Staff ask children open-ended questions, take time to listen and are responsive to their needs.

Children seek them out to share stories and staff read well to children. Children are encouraged and praised consistently; this supports their self-esteem.The programme of activities is purposely planned to meet the needs of children who attend.

Staff pay particular attention to diverse cultures within the club and ensure these are celebrated. They encourage the use of home languages and celebrate a range of festivals. For example, during Black History Month, where children have learned about black inventors and scientists.

This further supports learning about the wider community.Leaders have high expectations for the club. They spend time with children and staff to ensure activities are consistently meeting children's needs.

They have effective supervision processes to support staff development. They encourage staff to attend regular training to deepen their knowledge. This will support them to reflect and improve practice.

Leaders meet regularly with their team to discuss children's progress, information share and review the effectiveness of activities. Leaders are passionate about supporting well-being and show they value their team.The club have ensured they maintain excellent links with the school and actively take part in the parent teacher association.

They regularly attend school events with the children, such as cake sales and charity fundraising events. This supports children to learn about the diverse world they live in. Staff utilise teachers' knowledge to support their activities, often incorporating similar themes to extend and build on what children are learning in school.

Leaders maintain good partnerships with parents through regular feedback and newsletters. They share children's progress and encourage them to participate in events. Parents comment on how happy they are with the club.

They consistently say their children 'love attending'. They praise staff for their flexibility, approachability and good communication. They are happy with the nutritious snacks provided and say their children talk enthusiastically about the club's activities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff ensure the environment is safe for children by completing regular risk assessment checks. Staff have a good understanding of different signs of abuse and reporting procedures, if they have a concern about a child's safety.

Staff demonstrate good understanding of signs and symptoms of other areas of safeguarding, such as female genital mutilation, radicalisation and witchcraft. Leaders ensure they check the ongoing suitability of staff through close monitoring, regular supervisions and annual declaration forms. All staff receive regular safeguarding training and leaders ensure that staff keep their food hygiene and paediatric first-aid certificates up to date.

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