Chelmsford YMCA Out Of School Clubs @ Galleywood

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive and confidently put away their coats and bags, highlighting their sense of responsibility and accountability for their own belongings. They smile and play cooperatively together during imaginative play.

They confidently share their own ideas and build on the suggestions of others to extend their game. Children have secure relationships with staff. They enjoy playing games with their key persons, where they learn to take turns and practise their concentration skills.

Children follow the well-sequenced routine. They behave impeccably. Older children enjoy supporting and spending time with younger children dur...ing activities.

Older children foster nurturing relationships with younger children and help to reinforce the behaviour rules of the club. All children are incredibly confident when talking during the group 'news time'. Children enjoy sharing information with their friends about their day and they sit listening intently to each other.

This helps to support all children to feel valued at the club. Staff show genuine interest in the children's day and ask meaningful questions to extend conversations with them. For example, children comment they have learned about Africa.

Staff develop this to discuss the different types of clothing and traditions that are celebrated in Africa.

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

Staff value the importance of children experiencing regular opportunities to explore the outdoors to support their health and well-being. Children benefit from exploring the large climbing area to practise their gross motor skills.

They enjoy learning about nature in the local forest school area. They smile with delight as they play ball games with their friends in the outdoor environment and older children welcome younger children to join them in their play.Children begin to learn about similarities and differences between the children who use the club.

Children paint portraits of their own faces and staff display these on the wall and discuss with children how they are all different. This helps to give children a sense of belonging.The manager works closely with the host school.

Children continue their learning at the club as they use the same themes and topics. School teachers share information with the club staff when children are collected from their classrooms. The manager is proactive in discussing with children what they have learned and uses this to inform her planning to support their understanding further.

Regular discussions with the class teachers and the staff are held to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities in their learning.Staff provide excellent support for younger children. They are knowledgeable of what children can already do and they use this to challenge them further.

At mealtimes, staff encourage children to self-serve and use hand-over-hand support to help them use cutlery effectively. Children chat and laugh away together at mealtimes. They make independent choices from healthy foods that are provided for snack and tea.

They pour their own drinks and collect their own plates and cups. They discuss with friends what toppings they have chosen for their bagels and demonstrate good manners to each other, waiting for others to choose their toppings first.Staff have formed great relationships with parents whose children attend the club.

Parents report a high level of gratitude for the club. They thank staff for their commitment and for accommodating their needs and those of their children. Parents explain that staff keep them informed of their children's development and work in partnership to ensure children receive the best possible outcomes.

The manager leads the club exceptionally well. She is organised and involved in the daily running of the care the club provides. This helps to create a well-sequenced routine for children to follow.

Staff receive regular opportunities to discuss their practice. They benefit from whole organisation training on relevant topics to ensure they have opportunities to learn and develop at work. This ensures all staff are aware of their own roles and responsibilities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff are knowledgeable in all aspects of safeguarding. The manager provides regular training to ensure they have up-to-date knowledge on wider safeguarding issues, such as domestic violence.

Staff are confident in the procedure for reporting and recording concerns, including if they were concerned about the conduct of a colleague. A robust recruitment and induction process ensures that all staff are suitable to work with children and are aware of their roles. Managers complete an in-depth opening and closing checklist, to ensure the premises are suitable for the children, to keep them safe and secure while at the club.

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