Elm Cottage Out of School at Hursthead

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements The long-standing team strive to make children's experiences positive at this well-established club. Staff gather children's views and act on their suggestions.

For example, they add new resources or try new activities that children have requested. Children show a secure sense of belonging in this inclusive club. They access the many exciting areas with confidence and benefit from a well-resourced and welcoming environment.

Staff provide areas for children that may need space to regulate their feelings and emotions after a busy day at school. This helps to support children's emotional well-being.Staff embed clear rules to ...help keep children safe as they walk through the school and back to the club.

Children know the routine well as they wait in line to enter the club and put their belongings away. Children's behaviour is excellent. They help to create the club's 'golden rules' that they happily follow.

Children look forward to rewards that they receive for positive behaviour. Staff praise children's efforts and proudly display their artwork. This helps to support children's self-esteem.

Children are eager and enthusiastic as they enter the club. They choose from the many exciting experiences on offer. Children's laughter is heard often throughout the club.

They appear relaxed and happy as they move around, making choices about where to play. Some children choose to engage in energetic games outdoors, such as parachute games and football. Others choose quieter activities indoors as they relax, engage in activities and socialise with their friends.

Friendly staff are always on hand to engage with children and support their play and ideas.

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

Managers provide opportunities for the staff team to develop professionally. Many staff are completing qualifications and all access regular training.

This helps to enhance their skills and knowledge. Staff receive incisive feedback, coaching and support in their roles. New staff complete inductions and comment that they feel well supported.

Staff know children well. They show genuine enjoyment when spending time with them. Staff follow children's lead in play.

For instance, children suggest that they make paper aeroplanes to fly in the wind. Staff agree and they begin to work together to create their paper areoplanes. Children enjoy challenging each other to see who can throw theirs the furthest.

Children enjoy trusting relationships with the staff and are at ease in their company.Children's good health is promoted well. Children wash their hands at appropriate times.

They choose from a range of healthy food options, such as fresh fruits, and drink water to keep hydrated. Children comment that they enjoy the food at the club. Snack time is calm and children have a sociable time as they talk about their day with staff and other children.

Children show resilience as they persevere during creative activities. On the whole, staff encourage children to think of their own ideas. For example, children try different techniques to stick the structures they make together.

They use their ideas to come up with a solution. This helps to develop children's problem-solving skills and motivation to achieve their goals. That said, on occasion, children's independence skills are not fully promoted.

For example, some staff complete tasks for children that they are capable of doing themselves.Children have opportunities to re-visit activities that they enjoy. They particularly enjoy wrapping wool around circular cards to make pom-pom animals.

They concentrate and pay attention to detail and are delighted at the result. Staff recognise that these types of activities help young children to strengthen their hands and fingers in readiness for writing.Staff help children to learn about diversity during activities.

For example, children enjoy writing their names using the Chinese alphabet. They explore Chinese foods as part of a role-play activity. This helps children to learn about different cultural celebrations and helps to prepare them for life in modern Britain.

Parents are happy with the service provided. Some state that staff 'go above and beyond' to support their child. Staff pass messages from school to parents upon collection.

This helps to maintain effective communication between school and home.Staff gather information from parents, such as medical needs and dietary requirements. They store medications out of reach of children but ensure that all staff can access these if needed.

Staff use this information during mealtimes and supervise children well. This helps to keep children safe.Staff work well with the host school.

They find out what themes and topics children are learning about. For instance, children are currently learning about dinosaurs in school. Staff complement this learning well during play and planned activities.

Children are keen to share the dinosaur names that they know and staff praise their efforts.

Safeguarding

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

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