Blue Bears Playscheme LTD

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enjoy coming to the club and settle quickly into activities. They understand the routine and sit down and wait patiently for registration. When asked about their opinion, children report the club 'is great'.

They are welcomed warmly by staff and form strong bonds with them. For example, when staff arrive, children rush up to them for a cuddle and exclaim 'I've missed you.'Children demonstrate positive behaviours, older children show care and consideration towards younger ones and help them to access activities and resources.

Staff have excellent relationships with the host school and work effectively in partnershi...p with the school staff and school special educational needs coordinator. This ensures continuity in care between the school and the club. The club enables any necessary information to be passed to parents.

On the day of the inspection, extreme weather conditions meant that outdoor play was not possible. However, children have opportunities for safe indoor physical play. They enjoy games of football with a foam ball in areas cordoned off from quieter activities.

Children usually have access to the school's outdoor space. This supports children's physical development and helps them to learn to play cooperatively.

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

Staff ensure that they gather information from the school and parents prior to children starting in the setting.

Children have opportunities to visit prior to their start date. This helps children feel secure and ensures that their needs are met from entry.Children are confident and self-assured.

They are welcoming to visitors and speak with confidence about their favourite club activities. For example, they report that gardening was 'the best'.The provider has a clear vision for providing an inclusive environment for all children.

Children dance to and learn about music from a range of countries. The provider ensures that children know when musicians share a common cultural background to themselves. This provides children with positive role models and helps them to develop a pride in their heritage.

She is anxious to extend this to all the children who attend. Staff ask children to help them learn words from home languages. This demonstrates to children that these languages are valued at the club.

Children work cooperatively and show their confidence as they work together to perform a dance show for visitors.Children engage in activities that support their language development well. Younger children become engrossed in their imaginative play.

However, the resources available for imaginative play did not appeal to the full range of children that attend on the day of inspection. Children enjoy sharing books together and read together in the intimacy of a small tent in the playroom.Parents talk positively about the club.

They explain how the club has provided a 'safe haven' for their child, when circumstances at home became challenging. They describe how their children have grown emotionally stronger since attending the club and comment on how the club has built their child's self-esteem. Parents are appreciative of the range of activities available to their children.

They have noticed how children have opportunities to try new activities everyday through the arts and craft activities their children bring home. However, not all parents are aware of the individual member of staff or key person responsible for offering a settled relationship for their child.Staff ensure there is always access to drinking water.

They provide a snack at each session, including an occasional treat for celebrations, such as Christmas or Easter. Staff provide opportunities for younger children to rest or nap after the busy school day.The provider ensures that mandatory training is up to date for all staff.

Staff report that they feel well supported by their manager to develop their interactions with the children and grow in professional confidence. However, they have fewer opportunities to attend training that increases their knowledge of child development or how to extend children's play.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The provider carries out robust recruitment and vetting checks, which ensures staff's suitability to work with children. She checks the Disclosure and Barring Service update regularly for new information to ensure that staff remain suitable to work with children. Staff have opportunities to refresh their safeguarding knowledge, ensuring their knowledge and understanding is kept up to date.

This includes training about wider issues in society, such as children being radicalised. Staff know the procedures to follow if they have a concern about children in their care. The provider understands the procedures to follow if she has a concern around a member of staff.

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