Grange Link Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children settle quickly on arrival and are happy to greet their friends. They interact positively with staff, responding easily to their gentle humour. Children have a strong sense of belonging and have developed strong attachments with staff, who many know well from working in school.

These relationships help children to feel safe and secure. Staff are good role models and have clear and consistent expectations for children's behaviour. Children resolve minor conflicts themselves and play well together.

Children understand that resources are shared and that they need to take turns. Children say that they play with friends... from their own class and from other classes when at the club.Staff create a warm and welcoming environment, where children demonstrate high levels of confidence and independence.

Children happily engage in discussions with their friends and are keen to take part in the broad range of activities that staff provide. For example, they remind each other of rules when playing games or use their imagination well as they build with construction games. They enjoy playing outside, benefiting from fresh air and exercise and develop good physical skills.

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

The club caters well for the wide age range of children that attend. Staff plan and rotate activities for children. They offer children imaginative play, role play, building, drawing and games, as well as craft activities.

In addition, staff encourage children to contribute their ideas, so that they feel valued and included.Staff listen to children engaging in their lively conversations. They encourage discussions about children's families and their communities.

They learn about what children experience away from the setting. This supports staff in knowing children well and being able to meet their needs more effectively. Staff talk to children about the hot weather and how important it is to stay hydrated.

Children understand that they need to keep cool and stay in the shade if they feel too warm.Staff talk to children about their overall health and take children's allergies or dietary requirements into account. They display these prominently to ensure that staff remember what children can eat.

They remind children about routines, such as brushing their teeth. They talk to children about food that is good for them. However, staff do not consistently encourage children to make healthy choices.

For example, while snacks are generally healthy, staff do not always reinforce messages about food that is not good for them, particularly sugary snacks.Children are encouraged to be physically active. They enjoy lots of time in the outdoor playground.

Children have opportunities to run, play on scooters and bikes or take part in group activities, such as the parachute game. They experience the benefits that exercise has on their bodies and release energy.Children are confident to interact with unfamiliar people and talk confidently to visitors about their favourite activities.

They show what they have made with a sense of pride and achievement. For example, children play with bubbles outside. Staff skilfully show children how to blow hard and softly to make the bubbles.

Children spin around in circles to generate lots of bubbles, they squeal and jump with delight. Children are good communicators.The staff team places high priority on making the club an inclusive environment.

All children are welcomed and valued. Staff provide effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They work together with teachers and parents to ensure that all children's needs are met.

Parents are very positive about the out-of-school club. They value the service that staff provide and comment how much they rely upon it. Parents state that they feel their children are safe and well cared for.

They comment that their children thoroughly enjoy coming to the club and the range of activities that staff provide.Staff work well together. There are daily debriefs and regular meetings, where they discuss what has worked well.

They say they feel happy and supported at work. The manager meets with staff to discuss their roles and is seeking further training to enhance their professional development.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a good understanding of how to protect children from harm. They know how to identify and report their concerns about how to keep children safe. All staff attend regular training to ensure that their safeguarding knowledge is up to date.

Staff understand the process to follow if they have a concern regarding a colleague. The club has its own secure area within the school site. Staff communicate effectively with school staff.

They gather important information about children's individual needs each day. This helps them to recognise potential risks to children's health or emotional well-being. Staff monitor who enters the area well.

Risks to children are minimised and their safety is well considered. For example, the manager is vigilant and monitors children's movements from inside to outside play. She reminds staff to re-deploy themselves where necessary.

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