Cambridge Kidsclub @ Meridian

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy and eager to attend this welcoming club. They are keen to show and talk to staff about models they have made at school. Staff listen attentively, which helps children to feel highly valued.

Children are responsible individuals and show that they understand the club's expectations as they hang their personal belongings in the cloakroom before entering the club room. Older children are positive role models for younger children. They play together harmoniously, sharing craft resources, and younger children are very much included in team games.

Older children help younger children to fasten their high-visibi...lity jacket before going outdoors to play. Children are creative, they thoroughly enjoy designing a calendar. They are curious and express a keen interest in using a special pen to scratch off the surface of a bookmark to reveal an array of colours.

Staff demonstrate how to thread ribbon through the hole in their bookmark. Children persevere to do this themselves and staff's genuine praise motivates them to keep on trying. The designated cosy area enables children to relax and read books after a busy day at school.

Children speak fondly of the club and staff team. They say how they like to choose what they want to play with and enjoy playing with their friends and staff.

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

The provider has a secure understanding of his responsibilities.

He implements a rigorous recruitment process to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. The induction programme ensures that staff know their roles and responsibilities. The club's policies and procedures are shared with staff and readily available for staff to use.

The provider ensures that staff have good opportunities to continue to build on their practice. Regular supervision meetings and informal discussions identify staff development needs. Training is targeted to meet the individual needs of staff.

Staff benefit from a range of in-house and external training to extend their knowledge and skills. Recent training has had a positive impact on their understanding of when it is appropriate to intervene in children's play.Children have access to the school's outdoor area, where they play football and active games.

They learn how to assess their own risks as they balance on the trim trail and climb the climbing wall, under the close supervision of staff.Children show they understand the good behaviour and respect that is expected of them. This is because they work together to devise the club's boundaries about how they would like to be treated and how to treat others.

The play leader is passionate about the club being a fun and inclusive environment, where children come after the school day to relax and play. Staff know the children well. They find out a wealth of information from parents about children's interests and use this information well to plan activities and provide resources that reflect these.

Staff deploy themselves well and provide good levels of supervision to help keep children safe. They carefully monitor the numbers of children throughout the session and as children move between indoors and outdoors. Risk assessments are completed daily before the children arrive to ensure the environment is safe.

The provider and play leader gather the views of children and parents to help bring about positive improvements. Children are actively encouraged to share their ideas and suggestions. As a result of recent children's feedback, staff have provided large pieces of fabric to enable them to make dens.

Children are very clearly at the heart of everything that staff do.Children are independent individuals. They choose when they would like to help themselves to the variety of healthy foods.

However, staff do not always monitor or encourage children to wash their hands before eating. This means a robust hygiene routine is not consistently followed to reduce the risk of the spread of germs.Partnerships with parents are good.

Parents' comments are overwhelmingly positive. They welcome the feedback they receive when they collect their children. They describe staff as 'friendly' and feel that their children build a strong bond with them.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good understanding of their role and responsibility in protecting children from harm. They know how some safeguarding issues may impact on children and their families, for instance children witnessing domestic abuse or being exposed to extreme views.

Furthermore, staff talk about the importance of working in collaboration with the headteacher of the host school, to ensure children's emotional health and well-being. Staff have a good knowledge of the whistle-blowing arrangements. The provider ensures that all staff complete regular safeguarding training to ensure that their knowledge and skills remain up to date.

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