Firbobs Out Of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive at the club happy and eagerly give hugs to their friends. Staff welcome children with a smile and take interest in how their day has been at school.

This helps support children's emotional well-being and they demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. Children respond well to instructions that staff give them and anticipate routines well. They play harmoniously together and wait patiently for their turn with resources.

Staff are good role models. They are caring towards children and value their opinions. In turn, children have respect for each other, display excellent manners and behave extremely well.
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Staff plan the play environment according to children's interests and needs. This results in children being keen to explore a wide range of activities and resources. Older children sit together and discuss where they live, name local roads, bridges and tunnels.

Younger children play with plastic animals and refer to booklets to gain further information. These opportunities help children to learn more about their local community and the wider world. Some children enjoy relaxing on beanbags and sit and read books.

While other children show high levels of concentration as they create impressive art work and write messages on heart shaped cards.

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

The management team meet regularly to evaluate the effectiveness of the club. They share ideas and consider the views of parents and children.

Managers carry out supervision meetings with staff, which focus on their roles and responsibilities and any further training opportunities. Staff say they are happy and feel well supported by the management team. This helps them to provide the best care and service to staff, children and their families.

Children have multiple opportunities to be active and healthy. For example, they run around in the spacious outdoors and participate in team games, such as football and tennis. Additionally, children develop many physical skills when copying dance moves on a screen, these include balance and flexibility.

This helps children to exercise safely and keep fit.Staff continually talk to children and take part in interesting conversations. They ask children questions, listen to what they have to say and allow them to share their ideas.

At times, some staff do not call children by their correct names. For example, they use shortened versions or use generic names, such as 'mister'. This prevents children from gaining a sense of themselves, hearing the correct sounds in words and them further developing good speaking skills.

Children develop trusting relationships with staff and approach them for cuddles and reassurance. Staff provide continual support and act as good play partners to children. For example, children create a café.

Staff help build on this idea and provide menus and lists. They encourage children to take on different roles, such as a waiter, customer and chef. Children are happy and engaged in activities with their friends and staff.

Staff encourage children's independence. For example, younger children are given support to put their own coats on. Children are given choices of the snack they wish to eat and carry their plates and cups to the table.

These opportunities help children to develop positive attitudes and increases their self-care.Staff work well with teachers in the connecting school and share information about the children's day. They meet with teachers and discuss children's development in order for them to complement their learning at the club.

Furthermore, the manager is included in any specific training and meetings with other professionals to support children with special educational needs/or disabilities. This collective approach ensures that all children's needs are constantly met.Parents speak highly of the manager and the staff who work at the club.

They comment that they find the club very warm, inclusive and friendly. Parents express their love of the fun and interactive play that is on offer. They say that the communication and daily feedback given to them is excellent.

Parents feel very well informed of the things their children do at school and at the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff carry out risk assessments of the environment that children have access to.

Children are reminded to assess their own safety as they play. For example, when they play football, they allocate specific areas where nobody is allowed to walk to help prevent potential collisions. Staff confidently discuss the policies and procedures to follow if they have any safeguarding concerns.

They carry out safeguarding training and are aware of signs and symptoms of abuse. Robust recruitment procedures are in place. Necessary checks are carried out to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children.

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