Dicky Birds Pre School Nurseries Ltd – St Andrews

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this extremely warm, friendly, and welcoming after-school club. The manager and staff go to considerable lengths to ensure that children's individual needs are met.

They get to know children and their families very well from the start. Staff have implemented effective settling-in procedures, to help them to learn about children's interests, likes and dislikes. Staff plan a rich and varied selection of well-organised activities, where children engage for long periods.

The well-resourced play areas are set up so that children can make independent choices in their play, from a wide rang...e of activities, inside or outdoors. Staff are attentive and support children's play. They have excellent interactions with children.

This contributes significantly to children's sense of belonging, and supports them to feel safe and secure. Children have close attachments with staff, who show an interest in their school day and home lives. Children behave exceptionally well.

Staff are excellent role models. They praise children's positive behaviour, and are quick to identify when children may need reassurance and emotional support. Children play very well together.

Older children take great pleasure in helping younger children and being responsible for carrying out small tasks. Children know how to keep themselves safe and have a clear understanding about what is acceptable behaviour. Parents speak highly of the staff and the quality of care they provide.

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

The manager and staff have strong bonds with children and enjoy spending time talking to them. Staff value children's views, ideas, and opinions. For example, children work together to plan the activities they would like for the following week and contribute to the planning of the menu.

This helps to promote children's self-esteem and confidence.Staff are supported well by the management team. New staff receive a detailed induction about the organisation of the club to help them understand their roles and responsibilities.

Staff have regular supervision meetings to discuss their training needs and their health and well-being. They have access to online training to improve their knowledge and skills.Children mix well with different age groups and behave well.

They choose whether they wish to play inside or outdoors and enjoy the varied and stimulating environment staff create. Children eagerly make their own choices in their play. For example, children enjoy art and craft activities, constructing models and working on their hula-hoop technique.

Staff promote continuity of care. They liaise effectively with children's teachers and parents in order to support all children's needs. Staff ensure that they pass on key messages from the school and that parents remain continually up to date about children's ongoing care.

The manager communicates daily with parents about children's achievements and the activities they have enjoyed. Parents comment on how their children always look forward to attending and talk about it excitedly.The manager continually reflects on her provision and shares ideas with staff on how they can make improvements to the environment.

They carefully organise the indoor and outdoor areas to provide a broad range of activities, that support children's interests. For example, children learn facts about dinosaurs and caterpillars. They learn about the natural world and how to handle and care for the club's giant snails.

Staff encourage children to be independent and to develop an understanding of healthy lifestyles. Children enjoy a freshly cooked hot meal prepared by the cook. Children have plenty of opportunity to be physically active and can participate in outdoor games with the sports teacher.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. They recognise the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm.

Staff know the procedures to follow and understand broader safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation. The manager has effective procedures in place for the safe recruitment and induction of staff, to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. Staff follow well-organised procedures, for instance when collecting children from the host schools.

The premises are secure. Children are kept safe by the staff and the manager, who completes daily risk assessments of the areas used by the children. This helps to minimise any risks or hazards.