Dovecote Children And Families Project

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy and excited as they arrive at the club after school. They know about new routines and boundaries in place due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, and they confidently follow these.

For instance, children arrive and sanitise their hands and have their temperature taken. They understand that they must only use equipment the club has provided for them, such as the contents in their individually named pencil cases. Staff are effective in supporting children's growing understanding of how to keep themselves safe and healthy.

Children have access to a good range of resources and activities. Staff ask child...ren for their views and ideas and use these well to help plan themes and activities. For example, children used an assortment of 'junk' to make models, such as a pair of binoculars.

Children form strong friendships. The enjoy one another's company as they take part in activities such as games, crafts and sports. This helps children to build on their social, physical and creative skills.

Staff engage with children enthusiastically during meaningful conversations. For instance, children worked exceptionally well together to create their scarecrow. They tied the string and stuffed the body and head with straw, to create their scarecrow.

Children are confident. They feel safe and secure at the after-school club.

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

The manager shares her vision with the dedicated staff team.

She has an excellent knowledge of the needs and priorities of the local area and uses this well to drive practice and to ensure that families receive the support they need. For example, children and their families are excited for the planned play scheme trip to the seaside. This helps to meet children's individual needs well.

Staff create an extremely inclusive environment where diversity is highly respected. Staff are excellent role models and treat children with high levels of respect. They know the children well and genuinely care about the children's enjoyment while at the club.

Children are energetic in their physical play. They make the most of the club's large play area as they develop team-building skills. They negotiate space as they play a range of ball games and develop their coordination as they climb the climbing frame and slide down the slide.

Parents share very positive views about the provision. They describe the after-school provision as a 'life-saver' and an invaluable provision for working parents. Parents say that staff take time to get to know their children and build relationships with them.

They say that their children are happy and comment on them not wanting to leave the club at home time.Children have helped staff to devise a range of club rules and refer to these when managing their own behaviour. Children behave well and are polite and considerate to one another.

They receive plenty of praise and encouragement from the nurturing staff team.Staff collect children from the local school and take time to talk to teachers at collection times. This helps to support the partnership working between the club and school.

However, the manager has identified that she would like to further improve the links created between the club and the teachers at school to contribute further to meeting children's needs consistently.Professional development is strong. Staff say that they are very well supported.

Robust supervision procedures help to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children and have a strong understanding of their role.Staff provide children with light meals. Snack time has changed at the club, in line with COVID-19 requirements.

Staff have made suitable adaptations and children demonstrate good levels of independence and make healthy choices, within the COVID-19 context. Children enjoy the social aspects of sharing this time together. They chat to their friends and staff about their day and their interests.

For example, children chat about who will attend the play scheme in the summer holidays.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff complete training to keep their child protection knowledge up to date.

They are aware of the signs of abuse and neglect and know the local referral procedures to follow if they have a concern. They are aware of the duty to prevent children from being drawn into situations that put them at risk. The premises are secure so that children cannot leave unsupervised and unwanted visitors cannot gain access.

Staff identify and successfully minimise potential risks in the premises. Recruitment and selection procedures meet requirements. This helps to ensure that staff are suitable to work with the children.