Em’s Stars Before and After School Club Greasby

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are eager to attend this bustling and vibrant club. Younger children are greeted with a smile as they are collected from their classrooms.

They are excited to see their key person and often run and give them a cuddle. Children and staff chat happily together, sharing stories about their day. Children's independence skills are supported well.

For example, children hang up their own coats and bags and wash their hands in preparation for snack. Children quickly settle into making choices about what foods and drinks they would like. Staff are aware of children's individual dietary needs and adapt food choices to meet ...their needs.

This helps to keep children safe and promotes their physical health and well-being.There is a real sense of community in the club. Children learn about the people in the community who help to keep them safe.

They particularly enjoyed a visit from the fire brigade. Children are learning about the world around them and gain a good understanding of caring for their environment. For example, children animatedly discuss the impact of plastic waste in the sea.

They happily work together during a craft activity to make their own whales out of recyclable materials. Children build on their love of books. For example, younger children enjoy choosing their favourite stories and join in with familiar phrases.

Older children who want to read a story to their peers are supported by staff to sound out any tricky words. This builds children's confidence and complements their learning at school.

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

The experienced leadership team has a clear vision for the club.

This is shared effectively with staff, parents and children. There are robust systems for the safe recruitment of staff. Leaders provide access to a range of training that supports professional development.

Leaders continually observe staff to ensure there is a consistent approach for children. This includes a clear vision of how to interact with children and support their personal and social development.Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported.

Staff work with the school and families to ensure a consistent approach that meets the needs of individual children. Staff adapt their practice and make sure all children feel welcomed and valued.Children of all ages play together happily.

They behave very well and treat each other with kindness and respect. For example, children take turns scoring goals when playing football. This also helps them to form firm friendships.

Staff are excellent role models. They have undertaken training to support children who may struggle to regulate their emotions. There is a consistent attitude to promoting positive behaviour that supports children to feel safe and secure.

Parents are very complimentary about the club. They praise the flexibility of the club and the caring nature of the staff. They comment that their children often do not want to leave and that they feel reassured leaving their children, knowing they will have fun.

Partnerships between the club and the school are strong. Staff speak to class teachers at the end of the day and share key information effectively. High levels of communication mean that parents feel well informed about their children's day.

Children's opinions and ideas are valued. For example, when children ask if they can set up a craft club, staff enthusiastically support their ideas. Children and staff chat through how it will work and negotiate their roles.

This builds children's confidence and supports their resilience. Children are able to choose what they would like to play with from an array of resources. They also enjoy the freedom to play inside or outside.

Physical play is valued highly at the club. Children have access to a range of outdoor areas. They enjoy climbing and balancing on large apparatus, which promotes their gross motor skills.

Children enjoy team games, such as football, and play happily with staff and peers as part of a team. This helps them to make good friendships and play cooperatively.Children have plenty of opportunity to develop their imaginative play.

For example, staff and children play with construction bricks and discuss what they are making. They chat about how their drones will fly in the sky with the seagulls. Staff seamlessly repeat what children have said and add in new words to extend their vocabulary.

This supports children's communication skills well.

Safeguarding

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

Also at this postcode