Ichthus Out of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children demonstrate they feel happy and safe at this friendly, fun club. They arrive full of energy after their walk from school. Each day staff set up the environment, providing a good range of toys and resources.

Children are eager to engage in games, imaginative play and creative activities. They have many opportunities to be outside. Children are highly active as they play chase games or football.

They play cooperatively, sharing toys and resources well. Children's behaviour is good.Children enjoy taking part in craft activities.

They patiently use small beads to make patterns. Children talk about their desig...ns and are careful when making symmetrical patterns. At other times children draw detailed pictures and carefully fold the paper to make their monster pictures open and close their mouths.

Staff join in activities alongside children. They interact very warmly as they discuss what they are doing and talk about their day.

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

Staff work hard to keep children safe.

They carry out robust risk assessments to ensure that the premises are safe and secure. Recent reviews of risk assessments led to changes in the route that children and staff walk from school. This results in children being kept away from busy roads.

Staff are aware of their roles and deploy themselves effectively. This helps to make sure all children are supported and supervised at all times.Children have many opportunities to make independent choices, such as where and what they would like to play.

Staff give children a choice of the food they want for snack. This results in children relishing the meal they have chosen along with fresh fruit. Staff provide children with many opportunities to be physically active in the fresh air.

These activities have a positive effect on children's health and well-being.Children and staff enjoy being together. Staff spend time listening to children's ideas, offer them advice and praise their efforts, such as when building with blocks.

Staff model good manners throughout the day, and children regularly use 'please' and 'thank you' towards staff and each other. Children follow instructions well and understand what is expected of them.Parents talk positively about the club.

They say their children enjoy the activities staff provide. Parents feel their children are happy and that the staff care for them well.Children of all ages play together well.

As they engage in imaginative play, they gather together different resources and consider how they can be used. Floor mats become walls for buildings and tents become houses. Children discuss and negotiate their roles in the games they make up.

This results in amicable, purposeful play.The provider and staff team regularly evaluate the effectiveness of their practice. They make plans for the ongoing development and improvement of the club.

Recent changes to using more electronic procedures has made the registration system more robust. Following discussion with children, staff and parents, more formal planning for creative activities is being introduced.The provider has robust recruitment procedures in place.

This ensures all staff are suitable to work with children. They receive good support and training to build on their knowledge and skills. Staff talk positively about their roles and are happy working at the club.

The provider holds some informal conversations with the staff to support their ongoing development. However, there is scope to develop this area of practice further.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The provider and staff have a secure understanding of the correct procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child. Staff understand their role in child protection and safeguarding. They confidently describe the signs and symptoms of abuse and know who the designated lead officers for safeguarding are.

Safeguarding policies and procedures are well understood. As a result, staff are confident in what they must do should they have any concerns about children's well-being or the conduct of their colleagues. The provider leads new staff through an induction; this includes safeguarding and child supervision responsibilities.