Cascade Camps at Westbrook Hay School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive happily and are keen to find out what activities are available to them. Staff welcome new children very warmly.

They take time to show them around. This helps children to quickly settle and feel secure in their new surroundings. Although the camp is in its very early stages for the summer, children enjoy coming together as a group.

They get to know one another through sharing their names and offering news on something they like. Staff do the same and mutual respect is quickly gained. Children are making friends very quickly and the behaviour of children throughout the camp is excellent.

Children ha...ve many opportunities to be active. They take part in various sports, such as football, swimming and inflatable obstacle courses. They younger children thoroughly enjoy being in the superb garden area of the school.

They are free to climb, balance and run around, which they do with great delight. At other times, staff take children to other areas of the extensive grounds, such as the woodland. Here, they explore the natural environment and find great delight in nature.

Children listen well to staff and respect the boundaries they put in place. This helps all children to explore and play safely.

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

The provider is very well organised and has highly effective procedures in place for the running of his camps.

He sets out his high expectations of staff right from their recruitment. The provider make sure all staff are suitable to work with children and have the right skills to complement the team in which they will work. Induction and training days enable staff to understand all the policies and procedures, including safeguarding and behaviour management.

Staff report they are very well supported by the provider and managers and many return to work at the camp throughout the year.Staff get to know children as well as they can before they start to attend. Daily conversations with parents help to re-enforce important information.

For example, staff check allergies with parents and ask for a daily password for when their child is collected. This further supports children's safety and well-being.Children benefit from a well-resourced environment.

Every child is engaged in their chosen activities. This is because they choose the resources and toys they want to play with. Staff show a genuine interest and kindness towards the children.

They are always close by to offer support to children or to join in with their play.Parents talk very positively about the camp. They say their children enjoy the activities staff provide and are very keen to return.

Parents feel their children have settled in extremely quickly, are safe and that the staff care for them well.Staff sensitively support children to continue learning through the summer. They are aware that some children's learning can dip through long school holidays.

Staff are keen to not let this happen. With this is mind, they help children to keep thinking about mathematics, such as through counting how many children are present and adding others on as they arrive. Staff encourage children to write their names on their pictures.

Children are proud to show that they can do this by themselves.Children have lots of opportunity to be imaginative and creative in their play. They enjoy construction activities and talk in detail about building roads and office blocks.

Other children like to dress up and play imaginatively. The drawing area is popular and children draw or colour in pictures with precision and skill.Staff work hard to keep children safe.

They carry out robust risk assessments to ensure the premises, both inside and outside, are safe and secure. The host school ensures the provider is aware of who is on site and what work is being carried out. Staff are aware of their roles and deploy themselves effectively.

This helps to make sure all children are supported and supervised at all times.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

Also at this postcode