Happy Hours Out Of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive at the club happy and eager to explore the activities available to them. Staff support new children to feel secure, such as by playing with them until they feel confident to explore independently.

Children thoroughly enjoy creative activities, such as model making and drawing. They spend time planning what they will make and gathering the resources they need. Children concentrate on their chosen tasks very well and show pride in their achievements.

Children are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles. They spend time outdoors whenever they can. Children have opportunities for active play, such as riding on... scooters and they have lots of space to run around.

Snack is a highly sociable time where children sit together to eat and chat about their day at school. Children are developing a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. As they discuss the rules and values they have devised, children give reasons why these are needed.

For example, they talk about how accidents might happen if they run around inside. The relationships between all the children and staff are very warm and respectful. Children's behaviour is excellent.

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

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the managers consistently reflect on their practice. They work in close partnership with the host school, and together they endeavour to keep children safe. During national school closures, the provider delivered activities to children at home to help them to stay active and engaged in play.

Children are very welcoming and confidently engage in conversations with visitors. They are keen to find out about the inspection and what the outcome might be. Children give their reasons for needing the after-school club, such as, 'I come every day and have fun'.

Children invite visitors to join in games with them. At other times, they proudly describe what they have made with recycled resources. Children demonstrate a very strong sense of belonging to the club.

The leadership team is very experienced and staff turnover is relatively low. Despite this, the provider has robust recruitment procedures in place. This helps to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

Thorough induction and supervision processes enable staff to gain a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and health and safety policies.Children are very excited to be part of a new venture at the club. They are writing letters to pen pals at an after-school club in another country.

This experience is helping children to widen their understanding of the world. Children show great interest in comparing their lives to others. They are surprised with how much they have in common and openly discuss what differences they have.

Parents speak very positively about the club and staff. They describe the club as 'a happy and positive place, where children can be themselves'. Parents say they could not work if they did not have peace of mind that children are safe and enjoying themselves.

Many parents say when they arrive to collect children they are always highly engaged in activities and are reluctant to leave until they have finished.Partnerships with the host school and are strong and effective. The youngest children are brought to the club by their class teacher.

Children's key persons have opportunities to speak to them to share relevant information. This provides consistency of care for children.Managers and staff effectively evaluate the service they provide and look for ways to improve.

They actively seek the views of children and parents and incorporate their ideas into practice. Children's feedback on the club is very positive. They say the club is a fun and exciting place to be.

Children describe the staff as being 'kind and respectful'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Managers and staff have a secure understanding of child protection issues and know the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about a child's welfare.

They talk confidently about what they would do if they feel children are at risk of harm or extremist behaviour. All staff complete regular safeguarding training; this helps them keep their knowledge relevant and up to date. The provider has robust policies and procedures in place, these are used to underpin their good safeguarding practice.

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