Footsteps

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children flourish in this nurturing environment. They chat happily to the adults about their day as they walk hand in hand the short distance from school to the club.

Children enjoy being at the club and have loving bonds with the adults who care for them. They say the club is 'amazing'. Children are happy and feel safe.

Children behave well. They are polite and follow instructions from adults. Children confidently play together and engage in thoughtful conversations.

For example, they work together to find all the treasure in the sand and discuss what they like about the pearls. Children say that they have made l...ots of friends at the club. If children struggle to share or take turns, the adults calmly help them to resolve it.

Children's emotional needs are met and understood by the supportive staff who care for them. Children enjoy being creative with the wide range of resources available. They think of ways to make the flowers and the clouds in a model garden.

They choose which materials to use as they create a snail picture. This promotes children's confidence and supports them to become independent. Children are highly engaged in their play, they tell their parents not to collect them too early, so that they do not miss out on any time at the club.

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

Staff know children well. They consider children's individual needs and interests when planning activities and organising their environment. For example, they provide younger children with a dedicated space in which they can play and access resources that are appropriate to their age.

Children also have access to a cosy area to relax with a book or engage in quieter activities. This supports children to feel safe and secure in the setting.Children have access to a broad range of experiences at the club.

They are eager to join in with the planned activities and use the resources available to engage in their own independent play. For instance, children use the dolls to act out a story about a family. They rush to gather round when an adult introduces a new game.

These activities complement the learning and experiences that children access at school.The manager of the club has developed a strong partnership with the school that the children attend during the day. For instance, she works collaboratively with the headteacher to find ways that the two settings can share good practice.

Staff speak to the children's teachers as they transition to and from school. This helps to ensure continuity of care for the children.Parents are extremely positive about the quality of the care provided by the club.

They speak highly of the caring staff, who they say treat their children as individuals and know them well. Parents value the support that the club provides to them and to their children and the impact that this has had. For example, they say their children have grown in confidence and improved their social skills.

Parents say the club 'is like an extended family'.Children are provided with a healthy snack. They choose which piece of fruit they would like and talk about which foods give you energy.

Children also enjoy being physically active at the club. For example, children giggle as they stretch their arms as wide as they can to make big circles in the air with ribbons. They describe how they get out of breath from running around.

This supports children's understanding of how to make healthy lifestyle choices and how to look after their bodies.The manager has a clear vision for the club and is passionate about providing quality care for children. She ensures that staff have regular opportunities to review the activities that the club provides.

She carefully considers the suggestions that children make when investing in new resources. This helps to ensure that the club continues to develop and improve over time.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe. They receive regular training and have a clear understanding of the signs that may indicate children are at risk of abuse. Staff know what actions to take if there are any concerns about children's welfare.

Children demonstrate that they feel safe through the secure attachments they have formed with the adults working closely with them. Staff carefully assess any potential risks in the indoor and outdoor environments that the children play in. They supervise children well to ensure that the club is safe and secure.