Extra Care Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Staff collect children from their classrooms and bring them to the club. Children arrive smiling and staff are welcoming and friendly.

Staff provide visual prompts of the routine, so all children know what to expect from their time there, including a pictorial menu of what they will be eating for their snack. Children busy themselves quickly with the activities on offer. Children of different ages play together, constructing with various materials.

They work together and problem solve to connect pieces together. Older children offer words of reassurance to younger children as they build and play cooperatively. Children enj...oy spending time with staff.

Staff attentively listen as children discuss their day at school. Children make use of a 'suggestion/worry box', where they can have an input into the running of the club and express their concerns. This gives children autonomy over what they are doing and makes them feel valued.

Children relish having responsibilities at the club. They volunteer to help to set out the outdoor area before other children play there and help each other tidy up. This in turn makes children extremely independent.

Staff encourage children to develop their independence as they build their own wraps during a mealtime.

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

Children's behaviour is excellent. They follow the rules well and show care and concern for each other.

Effective buddy systems ensure new and younger children are paired up with an older child to help them settle. Staff identified that where children need more emotional support, this method creates a supportive atmosphere, where all children feel welcome, safe, and secure.An effective key-person system is in place to ensure that all children are settled at the club.

Staff spend time getting to know each child individually and work closely with staff in the host school to ensure that the needs of individual children are met. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff create quieter spaces for children that need time to themselves after a busy day at school.

This all contributes to children's well-being and ensures children's needs are met at the club.Opportunities are provided for children to play outdoors. Activities such as planting and mark making are available as are more physical activities, such as hopscotch and climbing.

Children enjoy the outdoor area and staff support children with their play. Children are supported to take risks as they climb on apparatus. Staff encourage children to persevere when facing difficulties, which in turn builds resilience and children are willing to have a go.

Staff use opportunities during play to build on children's existing knowledge. Children ask staff what time they are going to have snack. Staff use the clock on the wall and ask them to tell them when it is going to be 'four o'clock'.

They include activities involving different religions and cultures and continue this from school. Children also have opportunities to read their school books with staff if they wish to.Children are regularly praised, and this increases their self-esteem.

Children nominate a 'star of the week' and children are presented with a certificate, celebrating their achievements. During play, staff support and role model turn taking and reward children with praise and stickers. Children smile as they wear their sticker with pride.

The manager ensures that staff undertake regular training to improve their knowledge and skills. They take part in regular online and in-house training with the host school. Staff talk positively about the support they receive as they undertake courses to further their professional development.

Policies are regularly reviewed and shared with staff and a robust induction process is in place to ensure consistency in practice.Parents speak positively about the club. They talk about the wide range of fun activities provided for the children.

Parents say that they are happy that their children make friends when they are there. Parents feel their children are safe and secure at the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The club leaders are secure in their knowledge of safeguarding procedures. The manager monitors the ongoing suitability of staff to work with children. They have the required policies and procedures in place to support the welfare of children.

Staff have regular training to keep their knowledge of safeguarding up to date and often join with the host school. They communicate regularly with the host school's safeguarding officer to ensure that they are keeping children safe. Staff know the signs that may cause them to be concerned about a child, and understand their responsibilities to report any concerns immediately.

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