Bexhill Youth and Community Centre

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive at the club with excitement and enthusiasm after their busy day at school. They form close friendships with other children, some of whom are older or younger than themselves, and play very well together.

Staff provide a very relaxed, cosy and homely environment where children quickly settle and choose freely from a wide range of well-planned activities. There are good opportunities for more energetic and older children to play active games in the sports hall. Younger children, and those who prefer quieter times, happily settle for more relaxed activities such as arts and crafts.

A group of children initiate... an activity making Mother's Day cards, and one child chose to make a 'get well' card for a friend who is poorly. Staff support children's independence and freedom to choose well. They play alongside children and offer relevant challenge, such as by offering to play chess or engage in imaginative games with dolls.

Generally, children behave well. Some occasional incidents of more challenging behaviour from older children do not adversely affect the younger children, and staff manage these reasonably well. Children confirm they feel safe at the setting, and they know that staff look after them and can be approached for comfort and support if needed.

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

Staff work well together as a team. They support one another well and hold a range of skills, qualifications and experience. The club runs smoothly as staff fully understand their roles and what is expected of them.

There are good links in place between club staff, parents and school staff. Information about children's welfare is shared appropriately. Parents communicate clearly with club staff and teachers about children's attendance patterns so that children's safety is always assured.

Children's health is promoted well. When children arrive at the club after school, they use hand gel before they start activities to help guard against infection. Children are supervised closely during toileting to promote good hygiene and self-care routines.

Staff support children well. They offer provision for children to practise reading or complete homework if they wish. Younger children are particularly keen to share their new reading books.

Staff and older children enjoy celebrating their achievements and looking through the reading books together.Children's views and ideas are widely welcomed and respected by staff. Children play a key role in decision making and choosing which activities and resources are available.

They contribute ideas about games they wish to play and visits they would like to make during holiday club. Staff respect children's ideas and respond appropriately, so that children feel listened to and valued.Leaders have high expectations of children and staff.

They monitor practice closely and lead by example. Regular training is provided for staff to update their knowledge and skills. However, following training, leaders do not always check thoroughly how much staff have understood in the training and made sure they are confident in discussing new ideas and ways of working.

Occasionally, on the walk back from school, staff are not always deployed effectively. Some children are known to be more challenging to manage at times and do not set a good example to the younger children. Staff do their best to manage these situations.

But it does mean that on occasion younger children see behaviour which is not welcomed by club staff. This does not reflect the positive behaviour of the rest of the group.Staff work closely with parents to share information and provide services which meet their needs.

Parents are kept fully informed about children's activities and what their children have done each day. They are particularly grateful that staff complete a later school pick up, so that some children can enjoy the school's extra-curricular clubs and activities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have completed safeguarding training and demonstrate a secure knowledge of what to do if they have concerns about a child. There are relevant procedures in place to make sure children are kept safe. The hall is secure and unauthorised visitors are unable to gain access.

All activities, visits and outings are thoroughly risk assessed and children are protected from identified hazards. For example, when children visit the local parks, woodland and beach they wear high-visibility jackets so that staff can identify them easily. Staff understand the setting's safeguarding policies and the reporting procedures are clear.

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