Corylus Collective Holiday Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children settle quickly into the club through the robust and effective settling-in process. Staff gain an abundance of information from parents, that helps to identify children's needs and requirements to support their well-being.

Children thoroughly enjoy their day at this unique outdoor setting. They have the freedom to fully explore and investigate in their play and develop the confidence and resilience in their growing abilities. For example, children are able to navigate the different terrains, such as slopes and steps, that lead to the stream or woodland areas.

From this, children gain impressive physical skills and ...are able to manage different elements of risk in their daily play. Children are kind, tolerant and caring. Older children happily support and play with much younger children.

This helps all children to gain important social skills for the future. Staff help children to remain motivated and enthusiastic in their play. They are skilled at holding conversations that encourage younger children to start to use their increasing vocabulary.

Older children are articulate in the range of words they use. For instance, they happily discuss how they have 'combined additional pieces of clay to form a new world'. This helps children to recognise they are respected for their own opinions and suggestions.

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

The nominated individual, who is also the manager of the setting, is passionate about providing rich outdoor experiences for children. The staff and the manager form a very strong team, who strive to ensure each child enjoys their day. The team actively seeks feedback from parents and children to help them to continuously raise the quality of the care they provide.

The manager has plans to strengthen the supervision of staff, to support them to continually enhance their practice even further.Children are very independent and self-reliant. They are supported to develop high levels of self-care in all aspects throughout the day.

For instance, children access their own belongings from their labelled box, dress and undress themselves to prepare for play and exploration times and recognise when they need to wash their hands for mealtimes. Younger children are supported to quickly develop these skills through the effective role modelling of the staff team and by observing and interacting with older children. For example, children encourage and show each other how to use the outdoor washing station and how to safely stand on the step.

Partnerships with parents are well established and valued. Staff involve parents from the very beginning of starting at the club and keep them informed daily. Many parents and children return to the club each holiday and are very complimentary of the experiences and skills their children develop and achieve.

Children behave well. They eagerly follow the club routines, such as when the bell rings for a discussion time while sitting on the logs. Children listen intently as staff remind them of safety aspects and the importance of welcoming new children to the club.

They excitedly play in the woodland areas using their impressive imaginative skills. For instance, children create stables for their pretend horses. They paddle in the stream with staff and eagerly notice the different flowers, plants and the direction of the water flow.

This helps children to build an understanding and awareness of the wonderful world and nature around them.Staff use their understanding of children's likes and fascinations in their planning for resources and play areas. For example, children access many items to make dens with a variety of ropes and tarpaulins.

Staff help children to problem solve and develop higher levels of mathematics through sharing how to tie intricate knots and giving children time to practise these new skills. Younger children delight in creating a group painting together and playing guessing games. For instance, staff read cards with prompt questions and from this children are able to use their memory and recall skills to find the correct answer.

This helps children to build a sense of pride and strong self-esteem.

Safeguarding

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