Funzone at Holyoakes Field First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive at this inclusive and well organised club happy and separate from their parents or carers with ease. They are eager to join their friends and engage in their chosen play. Staff get to know children well.

They divide them into small groups based on their age and stage of development. This helps children to develop early friendships and gain confidence in new social situations. Children behave well.

They are aware of what is expected from them because staff remind them of the rules throughout the day. For children who also attend the host school, these expectations are already familiar and are consistent with... teachers' expectations at school. Staff plan to write specific rules with the children, which will remain in place for children who attend the holiday club.

Staff provide children with a wide range of play activities. Children move freely around the environment to make independent choices about their play. They sit comfortably to listen to stories read by enthusiastic staff.

Children express their creativity. For example, they design t-shirts and face masks to take home. Children demonstrate a strong sense of self as they draw self-portraits.

They use a mirror to observe their facial features and discuss their differences. Children talk about the colour of their skin, hair and eyes with staff and their friends. Children embrace their individuality and compliment their friend's picture, telling them 'it's really good'.

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

The leadership and management of this out-of-school club are strong. The experienced provider and enthusiastic manager demonstrate a secure knowledge of best practice and proactively seek ways to improve the already good service they provide for the children and families that attend. They regularly meet with staff to plan activities and seek parents' views through questionnaires and discussions.

Staff at the club offer children a consistent and complementary approach to their care and development. This is because partnerships with the host school is strong. The manager works at the school during the day so gets to know children and their families in different surroundings.

She shares information with other professionals at drop off and collection times to ensure all children's needs are met.Staff plan a variety of outings throughout the summer holidays. They take children to visit a number of interesting places, such as local woodlands, the beach and the zoo.

Staff complete thorough risk assessments before taking children out on trips to ensure they are kept safe when away from the setting. Leaders use reputable coach transport companies to ensure children's safety when travelling to and from areas of interest.The manager works alongside her staff team on a daily basis and effectively monitors their practice.

She ensures they have opportunities to access online training around their individual interests and needs to enhance their knowledge and skills. The staff team are very happy in their roles. They speak highly of leaders and comment on the good levels of support they receive for their well-being.

Relationships with parents are good. Staff gather a range of information from parents about children's interests and development needs when they first begin to attend. They use this information to plan interesting play activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Staff make themselves available at drop off and collection times to speak with parents about children's time at the club. This helps to keep parents well informed about their children's day. Parents are happy with the service the club provides.

They report that their children are always happy to attend.Staff support children's understanding of the importance of adopting healthy routines. They remind children to wash their hands before mealtimes and discuss with them the reasons why this is important.

When playing outdoors, staff talk to children about keeping themselves safe in the sun. Children are encouraged to keep their sun hat on and to keep their body hydrated.Children benefit from daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise.

They use their bodies in different ways as they jump through hoops. Staff provide children with a variety of sensory experiences. For example, children use their imagination as they play with the dinosaurs in the sand tray.

Children enthusiastically splash in water and pour it into containers before transporting it to a new place.

Safeguarding

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

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