Claregate Activity Time

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Staff work well as a team.

They provide children with a warm and welcoming environment. They work hard to ensure the club is a fun and inclusive environment for the children who attend. Children arrive at the club with big smiles, eager to seek out their friends.

Many greet each other with enthusiastic hugs. Children are happy and talk about what they like to do at the club. They involve visitors in their discussions, sharing news about their school day and home life.

Children talk about how they enjoy taking part in art and craft activities and say, 'I want to be an artist when I am grown up.' Children are indepe...ndent and know the routines of the club and what is happening next. For example, on arrival they hang their coats and bags up before sitting down for their snack.

Staff provide children with a broad range of activities. Children have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. They join in team games, such as football.

Children have great fun as they learn to use roller skates. Others balance and climb on adventure equipment. Those who prefer more sedate activities enjoy arts and crafts, construction resources and relaxing in the book corner.

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

Leaders provide regular supervision and peer reviews of staff practice. Leaders support staff when they identify areas for improvement, to enable them to provide high-quality care. Staff are deployed well throughout the club so that children are kept safe.

The key-person system is effective. Some staff also work in the school and know the children well, what they enjoy and how to support them during their time in the club. Children are confident and happy and clearly enjoy their time in the club.

The staff know the children well. Throughout the club, staff initiate individual conversations which engage children. These interactions make children feel valued and welcome.

This also helps to build their confidence and make them feel safe and secure.Staff are good role models. They speak to children and each other with respect.

Overall, staff manage behaviour effectively. Children are polite and use good manners. They chat to each other about their day as they enjoy their snack.

During team games, children enthusiastically cheer each other on. However, at times staff do not help children to learn about the negative impact of things they may say to others.Staff are mindful of the different ages and abilities of the children who attend.

They adapt activities and regularly check in on younger children to support and reassure them. This helps children to feel secure and build on their confidence.Staff provide children with healthy snacks that include a selection of fresh fruit.

Children are encouraged to drink water regularly during their time at the club.Staff show children their opinions and views are valued. For example, children make decisions about what they want to do at the club.

They confidently discuss the snacks they enjoy and those they are less keen on. However, on occasions, as they carry out routine tasks, some staff do not always recognise times when children would benefit from adult interaction.Staff maintain good relationships with the host school.

They find out what children are learning in school and make every effort to complement this in the club. For example, children learning phonics in school play games to complement this.Staff work closely with parents prior to children starting at the club.

They encourage new children and their parents to visit the club. They explain how the club operates, the activities that are available and they introduce them to the staff and children.Parents are very complimentary about the club.

They say their children look forward to attending. They are pleased their children are happy and safe. Parents comment on the 'friendly' staff.

They appreciate that staff pass messages to and from the host school.

Safeguarding

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

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