Furze Platt After School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy at this club. They settle quickly as they arrive with their friends. Children tell the inspector that staff are fun and keep them safe.

They enjoy their time at the club and show affection for all staff as they involve them in their play. Staff ensure children understand that playing on the courts is safer than on the concrete playgrounds.Children have plenty of opportunities to paint and construct as they access a wide range of activities on offer to them.

Younger children play with dolls and enjoy dressing up, acting out their own ideas and stories. On the whole, children display good behaviour. They n...egotiate with each other, playing well together.

Children understand the expectation that resources are shared and that they need to take turns. Older children support younger children when they find tasks difficult, such as using scissors during craft activities.Children gain a secure knowledge and understanding of similarities and differences between people and communities.

They learn about other traditions and festivals celebrated around the world, such as Diwali and Chinese New Year.

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

Staff are kind and caring. They know the children well and are deployed effectively to ensure their well-being.

For example, young children have a designated key person. Staff form positive relationships with staff from the feeder school and gather information about children from them. This helps to ensure that children's care is tailored to their individual needs and that their ongoing development can continue to be guided by the staff at the club.

Staff support children's understanding of being healthy effectively. Children manage their personal hygiene very well, understanding the importance of regular handwashing before mealtimes. The club provides healthy and nutritious home-cooked meals and snacks.

Staff follow clear processes to ensure that children's dietary requirements are met. They use mealtimes to further promote independence. For example, children confidently serve their own food.

The manager and provider are extremely passionate about their roles and strive to give children the best of care. The manager leads her small team with great determination and demonstrates a very good understanding of the early years foundation stage requirements. The manager and staff work cohesively together to ensure the smooth running of the club.

They evaluate the club well and observe the quality of interactions with play to build further on their already good practice.Children are encouraged to be physically active. They benefit from outdoor play each day to promote this.

However, at these times, staff are less proactive at engaging children in purposeful play and encouraging them to select resources to support their play.Leaders and managers invest heavily in staff's professional development. Through regular supervision sessions and appraisals, they identify, target and action staff's training needs.

This helps all staff to continue to develop their knowledge and skills relevant to their roles. A mentoring programme supports staff to gain experience, ready for positions with more responsibility.Staff support children's communication and language well.

They listen to children with interest and engage them in thoughtful conversations. Children are good communicators and can describe their ideas in details. For example, they explain the rules of card games and explain their thoughts and ideas as they use crepe paper to make snakes.

Children enjoy the large-group activities that staff plan for them. However, the manager recognises that these times could be organised more effectively. For example, on occasion, some children lose concentration and disrupt other's learning as focused activities take too long.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff minimise risks to children well. For example, they ensure the spaces that the club use are secure and they are mindful of how to manage collection times to keep children safe.

Staff understand their role and responsibility to keep children safe and they keep their child protection knowledge up to date, such as through training. They know the local safeguarding partnership procedures should they need to report any concerns about a child in their care. Staff are familiar with the signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is more vulnerable or at risk of harm.

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