Beavers After School Hours (B.A.S.H.)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this fun after-school club. They excitedly greet their friends and staff as they enter the hall and share news about their day.

Staff provide a relaxed environment for children to enjoy after a long day at school. They are provided with a wealth of stimulating resources which they can independently access in the setting. For example, outside, children enjoy getting involved in multisports with a specialist sports coach.

They play football on the astroturf pitches and cricket on the field, or sit back and relax in nature in 'the garden of tranquillity', a peaceful sensory garden.Child...ren are involved in the running of the club, which supports the development of their self-esteem and leadership skills. They are involved in the planning of activities, sharing their ideas of what they would like to do.

They indicate which toys they would like purchased and snacks that they would like to have on their menu. Children take ownership of their club and there is a positive, purposeful atmosphere where they are motivated and highly stimulated. They say that they enjoy taking part in the huge variety of activities available, including games, craft and sport.

Children behave exceptionally well. They understand the routines and what is expected of them. They take ownership of the club rules and help to decide what they should be, to keep everyone safe and ensure that they can play together happily.

Children are supported well by staff, who join in their play and act as good role models. Staff have secure systems in place to support children to manage their own behaviour.

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

The well-qualified and experienced team of staff work well together.

They all strive to ensure that children are happy and settled at the club. Staff show high levels of energy and enthusiasm, which excites children and makes their experience fun and entertaining. Staff build strong bonds with children, which gives children confidence and a great sense of well-being.

Children's self-help and independence skills are developed as they are involved with the day-to-day running of the club. For instance, children cut cucumber and strawberries, grate cheese and prepare pitta bread for snack time. They proudly explain to visitors that they are getting snacks ready for their friends.

Staff encourage children to try things for themselves, allowing them time to discover their own abilities. For example, when a child asked a member of staff to cut their St David's Day daffodil, they were encouraged to try themselves first.Children develop a strong understanding of how they can keep themselves healthy.

They are encouraged to make healthy choices at snack time through the meals available. Children develop their physical, social and emotional skills outdoors through the varied sports curriculum provided.Staff are aware of children's needs.

Some staff members work both in the school and the club, and this helps children feel happy and safe in the setting. They regularly exchange information about their day. This helps staff to support children's time at the club.

Children learn about their community and the world around them through planned adult-led activities and day-to-day conversations. For example, at the snack table children spoke about a social networking site and a member of staff reminded them that they need to be 13 to have access to that particular platform. She went on to list how they need to keep safe on such sites.

New children settle well into the club. Leaders invite families to come along with their child to meet staff and stay and play before they join. During this time, parents share information about their child's needs, supporting staff in providing the best possible care for their child.

Staff have very good relationships with families. They are highly complimentary of the helpful staff and the service they provide. They speak positively about the wonderful things that their children do at the club.

Each child has a key person who gives daily updates on the activities that children take part in and what they had for snack, and passes on messages from the school. Parents say that their children love being at the club and it is difficult to get them to leave when they come to collect them in the evening.Leaders are committed to the continual development of the club and the vision of supporting local working families.

They receive feedback from parents and staff to help evaluate the quality of care and the activities provided.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Children's transitions from school to the club are managed well.

Staff collect younger children from their classrooms and older children meet staff in another building and are walked back to the after-school club. Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of how to keep children in their care safe. They are confident in identifying the signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect, radicalisation and grooming.

They also know where they need to report their concerns. Staff receive regular training and are aware of how to keep children safe online. They are aware of the culture of the local area and the possible threats to children.

Staff make sure that the club is safe and well maintained. They act swiftly to deal with hazards. Leaders ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children.

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