Hoots Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enter happily, readily make choices and have immense fun in the friendly, safe and relaxed club. They take part in a wealth of stimulating activities, including sports, dance, gymnastics, science and animal workshops. Activities build on children's experiences, knowledge and skills superbly, and foster their creativity, social skills and friendships.

They also reinforce essential skills and positive attitudes that children require for successful learning. Children thrive on staff's positive, caring and motivating interactions, for example while making musical instruments. Staff model how to stretch the latex over the top o...f a paper cup, filled with lentils, before securing this with an elastic band.

Children are engrossed in such activities. Children express themselves confidently. They note the texture of the dough after it has been heated in the pan, and exclaim how warm and soft it is.

Children are kind and highly sociable. They share resources and patiently take turns while making dough together. Children excitedly share ideas, such as making a snail or dinosaur with the dough.

They behave very well as they follow the club rules, which they help to create. Children are polite and respectful to one another, something which staff model exceptionally well. Children develop a strong sense of belonging through their active involvement in how the club is run.

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

Staff complement inspiring theme-based activities, such as old-fashioned baking and making clay pots, with educational outings. For example, children visit the local museum; they observe many domestic artefacts and learn about what life was like for a weaver in the early 1850s. Staff also share historical photos showing how the shops and buildings in the village have changed.

Children have excellent access to outdoors. For example, they visit a woodland area, set within the grounds of the local primary school. Children build dens, go on bug hunts and treasure hunts, and make bug hotels.

Staff reinforce children's literacy and mathematical skills in many fun ways. For example, children make treasure maps and complete outdoor alphabet scavenger hunts. Staff introduce counting and measuring as children make dough.

As children create wiggly worms, staff ask questions, such as which is the 'longest' and which one is the 'shortest'.Staff take part in healthy lifestyle initiatives, funded by their local authority, and provide healthy food choices for children. This helps to promote children's physical well-being.

However, where children bring packed lunches, there is scope for staff to work in greater partnership with parents to support the club's healthy eating ethos.Staff build a clear picture of new children, for example through 'All about me' documents. Staff use this information from parents to emotionally support children's transition to the club.

Parents receive continuous updates, thereafter, and complete detailed surveys to help inform practice.Staff work closely with Reception teachers to complement learning in school and support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. As part of this, staff contribute to assessments and reviews.

Staff effectively foster children's self-esteem and confidence, and children proudly show off their musical instruments and dough models. Children work in teams to gain points for positive behaviours, which staff tally up each week. This leads to rewards such as a visit to the local supermarket.

Staff help children to be good citizens. For example, children take part in funding events to support charities, and engage in litter picking and recycling. Children help local residents to harvest food growing in the community allotment.

They learn many interesting facts, such as the curing process for garlic to dry.Staff encourage children to take appropriate risks and challenges to develop physical and emotional health. Children grow in confidence as they carefully walk across wobbly balancing platforms, made using planks and tyres.

Staff help children to learn about diversity in certain respects, such as planning activities around multicultural traditions. However, there is scope for staff to consistently expand on children's understanding of a broader representation of people, families and communities beyond their own.The new manager's qualification has a very positive impact on the quality of the club, as does her excellent on-the-job coaching, support and mentoring of staff.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff give a high priority to children's safety and welfare. The provider undertakes rigorous recruitment and vetting processes.

Staff have a secure knowledge of child protection issues, including how to report any concerns of this nature. The manager undertakes more advanced safeguarding training, relevant to her lead role. Staff undertake rigorous risk assessments to ensure the safety and security of the premises.

Staff demonstrate, and explain, safe practices. For example, they supervise children closely as they use the toaster at breakfast time. Staff remind children to wear a helmet when riding scooters or bikes, and explain why they must wear sun protection cream and sun hats.

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