Funtastic@Alder Grove

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive happy and excited to be at the club.

They talk and giggle with each other as they wait for the session's plans to be shared by staff. Children behave well. They show respect and listen carefully to instructions.

Children show care and consideration when playing together. They choose their own play and concentrate well to complete their tasks. For example, children carefully draw and colour in pictures of characters they are familiar with.

Children follow the set routines well and keep the place tidy. They choose to return back to any unfinished tasks after spending time outside. Children are praise...d for their efforts and cheer when they are successful.

They show a positive sense of belonging and high levels of self-esteem.Children follow the staff's lead and show compassion and kindness towards each other. Older children introduce younger children to the inspector and explain how they may need help in some areas, such as when using scissors.

All children feel at ease to approach adults for support when they come across any difficulty. Staff build strong bonds with children and are sensitive and responsive to their needs. This helps children feel safe and valued.

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

The highly qualified and experienced leadership team possess a clear vision. They recognise that all children need enriched experiences to help them achieve their best. They listen to children's suggestions and readily take these on board.

For instance, children eagerly highlight some resources they would like for physical activity. Leaders and staff carefully consider children's input and order the suggested resources. Staff take great pleasure in supporting children to develop a sense of ownership.

Children share their ideas and suggestions about group activities with staff, for example a quiz or a talent show. During the talent show activity, children are able to express their unique character through singing, dancing and telling jokes. Children talk enthusiastically about these shows, saying that they sometimes pull funny faces to make the audience laugh.

Staff provide children with daily opportunities to enjoy fresh air and develop their physical skills further. For example, children use the outdoor school grounds for ball games. They thoroughly enjoy staff joining in with their play.

They create imaginative games with interesting plots, such as pretending to be dragons tossing balls at each other.Staff and the host school work well together. There is a positive partnership between staff at the club and teachers at the school.

Teachers communicate closely with staff about children's welfare and their day at school. This helps to inform and prepare staff about how to support each child effectively. Some club staff also work in the school, which supports children's continuity of care at the club.

As a result, children's individual needs are successfully met.Leaders work closely with their staff and monitor the quality of care and play opportunities provided for children. They give staff helpful feedback to support their future performance.

Staff are also keen to continue to enhance their practice, such as undertaking training to further support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff say that they feel well supported by the leaders.The number of children who attend the club has increased rapidly.

The room where all children play can sometimes get noisy. It proves difficult for children who, for example, want to share books in small groups. Leaders and staff have already highlighted this and are currently re-evaluating the organisation of the provision, to allow children to have the choice to play or relax in different areas of the school that the provision has access to.

Staff's relationships with parents are a strength. Parents say that their children love coming to the club and talk about their experiences with excitement. They report that they are well informed about the organisation of the club and appreciate the close liaison with school.

Parents comment that their children 'get into the right mindset in breakfast club and wind down after school'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff complete appropriate safeguarding training regularly and have a sound knowledge of potential signs and symptoms of abuse.

This includes possible risks related to exposure to extremist views and behaviours. Staff are aware of the local procedures to follow, should they need to report a concern about a child or an allegation against an adult. Leaders follow robust safer recruitment procedures.

They also regularly check the ongoing suitability of staff to work with children. Staff maintain a safe and secure environment for children, such as when the outside stairs are wet, children use the indoor stairs to go outdoors, holding the handrail. Staff support children to identify potential hazards, indoors and outdoors.

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