Hamstead After School Kids Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enjoy their time at this friendly and welcoming out-of-school club. They are happy to see the staff who greet them warmly as they come out of school. Children benefit from a wide range of healthy and nutritious snacks, which they help themselves to.

For instance, they choose different healthy fillings to make their own choice of wraps.Staff and children form positive relationships. Children play across the age group together and are respectful of others.

Older children support their younger friends and they participate in activities cooperatively. Children behave very well. They know the club's rules and learn to ...use effective strategies to help them manage their feelings.

For example, they know to write their names down when they want to play with computer games. This helps them to take turns and to ensure there is limited screen time. Children demonstrate that they are happy, settled and safe at the club.

They have great fun as they play. Younger children enjoy matching games. They eagerly race against each other to fill their boxes with matching wrapping paper that has been strewn around the floor.

Older children enjoy more complex board games. They count and calculate as they move their pieces across the board. This enhances their mathematical understanding.

Staff provide many activities to engage and motivate children to play and learn.

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

Since the last inspection, the managers and staff have worked diligently to ensure the actions and recommendations raised have been addressed. They have accessed safeguarding training to ensure they are kept up to date with changes in legislation.

The small, longstanding staff team works very well together. They are highly motivated and committed to providing good-quality care for children. Staff benefit from ongoing supervision and coaching to continually develop their knowledge and skills.

Staff form close relationships with children, parents and the school. The manager considers the views of staff, children and parents to drive further improvements. Staff regularly meet as a group to discuss how to improve and develop the provision.

Children are encouraged to request activities they would like.Parents report that their children enjoy attending and that the staff are kind and caring. Children often do not want to go home at the end of the session.

Parents are invited in to join in or help prepare activities for children. For example, they join children to make Christmas decorations, prepare food-tasting sessions and lead penalty shoot-out competitions.The relationship with the on-site school is strong.

Staff work closely with teachers to help children achieve their next steps in learning. They share information that supports children's well-being and emotional security. Staff plan a wide range of activities that enhance children's learning at school.

Staff support children's emotional development well. They interact warmly and readily give a reassuring cuddle to younger children after a long day at school. Children demonstrate an understanding of well-established routines as they automatically store their coats and bags away neatly before setting off to play.

Many of the children have special friendship groups and have the freedom to socialise and play together. Staff give good attention to providing the resources that the children enjoy most. Children quickly settle into activities and thoroughly enjoy their play.

Staff support children's communication and language well. Children engage in deep conversations with staff, who enjoy hearing about what they have done at school that day. Children have access to many information books and stories.

Younger children use their imaginative skills as they pretend to look after their baby dolls. They use their real-life experiences in their play and enjoy playing with the dressing-up clothes, creating and acting out various characters. Children develop strong physical skills.

Staff join them as they dance enthusiastically to music.Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their writing skills and pencil control. They enjoy drawing or colouring pictures.

There are plenty of craft activities for children to become creative and to enhance their small-muscle skills. Children competently use scissors, glue and a variety of materials to create imaginative decorations.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff recognise the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is being abused. They confidently know the steps to take should they feel concerned about the welfare of a child. Staff are aware of their responsibilities to help protect children from harm.

For example, all staff are aware of the procedures to follow should there be an allegation against another member of staff or the management. The manager ensures that all staff and members of the committee are suitable for their positions by undertaking necessary vetting, including obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service checks. This helps to minimise any risk of harm to children.