Highworth After School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive at the out-of-school club ready to play. Staff collect the younger children from their classrooms and take them through to the hall in the school grounds. Children arrive, look to see what is available and soon settle down to play with their friends.

Children of all ages play with each other. They engage in role play in their 'shop' and open the 'restaurant', asking their friends what they want to eat. Staff support children in learning new skills.

They sit with the children and help them to create 'animals' using the origami technique. When parents arrive, children show off their creations. Children share ...their love of making jewellery from 'bands'.

They sit and concentrate and proudly show off the finished bracelet they have made. The children demonstrate good behaviour. The older children are kind and caring towards the younger children and include them in their games.

Children learn to follow simple routines to help them become independent. For instance, they arrive, hang up their coat and bag and queue up for their snack. Children sit and chat with each other while they eat their food.

Staff wipe down tables at the end of the session to ensure that they are clean and ready to be used next time.

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

The provider ensures that those associated with the setting complete the relevant forms for Ofsted to check their suitability. There are effective procedures in place to check that the staff working with children are suitable to do so.

All staff complete training to update their qualifications, knowledge and skills. Leaders and managers carry out annual appraisals to identify staff's continual professional development.The out-of-school club provides a relaxed play-based provision, allowing children to have fun and play with their friends following their day at school.

The resources are rotated so that children play with a variety of toys. The staff set out the environment to enable children to play in small groups or take part in quieter activities, such as puzzles and reading books. Staff plan regular arts and crafts; they support children to participate and help them to learn new skills.

Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of how to keep children safe. They deploy themselves effectively in the outdoor area to ensure that they can see children at all times. Staff support younger children when they use the bathroom, for instance helping them to access the soap to wash their hands.

Staff keep their knowledge of safeguarding updated through training and ensure that contact numbers for other agencies are readily available.Children have regular opportunities to enhance their physical skills. They enjoy climbing on the new frames and the obstacle course in the school playground.

Staff monitor children effectively to ensure that the younger children use the equipment that is suitable for them. Children enjoy showing staff how they can climb and balance on the equipment.Staff encourage children to use their language and communication skills.

They have books available inside and outside, and children listen to stories read by the staff. Children are encouraged to use their imagination during their play. They talk about what they are doing and ask their friends what they would like to buy from the shop and how much they need to pay.

Partnerships with parents are positive. They confirm they are happy with the care provided for their child and particularly like the consistency of the staff, who are very friendly and approachable. Parents like the fact children of different ages can play together, and the older children look after the younger ones.

The parents' noticeboard displays details of the staff who work in the club, including their qualifications and training and other relevant information.

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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