Crazy Crackers Ltd @ St. Mary’s

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive with confidence into the club and know where to place their coats and bags. They know the routine well and choose where they wish to play. Children help themselves to the range of snacks provided.

Staff support younger children to put their snack on a plate and to pour a drink. Children sit together calmly and exchange conversation over their meal. They listen to one another and use manners.

Children's behaviour is consistently good. Staff help children to regulate their emotions and provide quiet areas, where children can relax and take the time they need to settle. Children are happy and content.

...>Children love to show their creations to staff, peers, and their parents, when they arrive. They tell the inspector about how they 'love to make things' when in the club. Children spend time making lanterns by cutting and gluing using a range of materials provided.

Staff interact with children as they play to help them remain interested and complete the tasks they have started. This helps children stay focused and busy throughout the session.Staff have formed good relationships with children.

They support children's well-being and value their opinions. Leaders gather children's feedback often to help them continually develop and improve children's experience in the club. When asked what their favourite thing about the club is, many children comment that it is 'the staff'.

This is testament to the staff's care and the interest they give to children and their individual needs.

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

Leaders have continued to support staff to develop their skills and knowledge. New staff undertake a thorough induction process that helps them understand their roles and responsibilities in the club.

Established staff regularly complete training to broaden their awareness in a variety of childcare topics. This helps staff provide the best possible care for children.Staff create exciting activities and tasks for all children to participate in.

In the large outdoor space, children play fast-paced ball games. They cheer for each other and laugh together. Children are happy and eager to join in with their friends.

Leaders and staff have well-established partnerships with the school that children attend. They communicate daily about children's needs and interests to ensure these are further supported at the club.Staff help children to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Children know to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before eating their healthy snack. Furthermore, staff set up a role-play dentist. Children talk about good oral health and use pretend mouths and tools to demonstrate cleaning and fixing teeth.

Parents are extremely complimentary about the club and the support their children receive. They speak about their children developing high levels of independence here and how effective the communication is from all staff. This helps parents know their children are secure, happy and continuing to achieve.

Staff provide some activities that help children learn about different cultures and family traditions. Leaders have recognised the need, and are working on, further ways to help children become aware of a wider range of attributes that make us unique. This will help children prepare for life in modern Britain and become even more accepting of the people they may socialise with in the future.

Children explore in a safe environment. Staff know how to recognise and minimise risks. Children are supported to keep their space safe and tidy.

They learn to pick bags up from the floor so they do not trip over them.Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well integrated in the setting. They have formed close attachments with staff and feel safe and happy.

Staff follow shared learning plans and work with professionals to ensure all children's needs are carefully met. Children with SEND continue to flourish and have a positive experience while at the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff and leaders are aware of their role to help safeguard children. They can identify the signs and symptoms that may cause concern for children's welfare. Staff know how to follow procedures in the club and with the local authority, should they need to report child protection issues.

They know how to recognise unsuitable behaviour from other staff members and how to whistle-blow. A sufficient number of staff have up-to-date first-aid qualifications for them to respond effectively to children who require medical attention. Staff know how to keep children safe when walking to and from school and know the importance of head counts at regular intervals.