J.E.Ts @St Nicholas

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy attending this warm and welcoming club. They arrive and are encouraged to discuss their day in school before choosing which of the exciting activities staff provide to engage in.

Children remark that if they have a problem or need a little help staff are always on hand to support them. This helps children to feel safe and secure when attending the club. Staff are kind and nurturing towards children.

They are effective role models, who have high expectations of children's behaviour. Children understand the rules of the club and offer each other gentle reminders to help maintain a harmonious atmosph...ere. They eagerly discuss how they are praised and receive rewards when they behave well.

All children are incredibly well behaved. Staff gather detailed information about each child before they begin to attend the club. This is used effectively to help to ensure that children's individual care needs are met.

Furthermore, staff know what children like to play with. They ensure that activities the children enjoy are available when they arrive. This helps children, particularly those who are new to the club, to settle.

Children concentrate when they are engaged in activities that interest them. For example, when children use craft resources to make pictures, they describe how they have scrunched tissue to make the leaves on the trees. Children of all ages support and help each other to try new skills.

Children find this incredibly engaging.

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

Staff consider children's views when deciding upon the activities provided. Children discuss what they enjoy doing and share their ideas with staff.

For example, recent discussions about Christmas-related activities resulted in opportunities, such as biscuit decorating, being provided. Children excitedly mix icing and add a range of decorations to make reindeer biscuits. They share their ideas and compare the different sizes of reindeer noses on their individual biscuits.

Opportunities such as these generate conversation and excitement.Staff interact well with children and enhance their play. They encourage children to solve problems and to do things for themselves.

For example, when writing Christmas letters, staff encourage children to fold their own letters and seal the envelope by themselves. This helps to develop young children's growing independence and thinking skills.Children of all ages play exceptionally well together.

Older children welcome their younger friends into their play and patiently explain what they are doing. For example, older children support younger children to understand how to play snakes and ladders. They explain what happens as they roll the dice and land upon a ladder or a snake.

Children count the squares and predict which number they need to throw in order to land upon a snake. These interactions generate great excitement.Staff are dedicated to their role and wish all children to have fun experiences while attending the club.

Staff reflect on the success of the activities provided and use their evaluations to review what they offer children. Effective communication with staff in the school that children attend means staff are aware of what children are learning in school. They help children to practise the skills they are learning in school, such as writing their name.

This helps to support children's learning.Children understand staff's expectations of the routine when they arrive at the club. For example, they place their belongings in the allocated space and listen well when staff ask them to wash their hands, prior to eating.

This contributes to promoting hand-hygiene routines.Staff discuss how they feel incredibly well supported. They receive opportunities to discuss their role and engage in further professional development.

This helps staff to build upon their skills and refresh their knowledge. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on supporting staff well-being. When required, adjustments are made to help staff to fulfil their role.

Staff state they enjoy working at the club and being with the children.Parents speak highly of the care their children receive while attending the club. They value the regular communication from staff about their child's day in school and at the club.

Parents praise the variety of activities provided. They appreciate how staff plan for visitors who enrich children's experiences. For example, by teaching children to knit.

Parents state that this is a 'wonderful club, I cannot think of a better place for my child.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.