Jousters At Ickleford

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy and enthusiastic as they arrive at the club. They are met by welcoming staff and children are keen to share their news with them. The atmosphere at the club is very positive.

Children are eager to explore the activities available to them. They are excited to see dressing-up clothes and immediately begin to dress up and engage in imaginative play. Children are kind and helpful to each other, such as by helping to fasten each other's clothes.

Children's behaviour is good.Children are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles. They spend time outdoors, whenever they can.

Children have opportunities ...for active play, such as ball games and they have lots of space to run around. Snack is a highly social time, where children sit together to eat and chat about their day at school. They are confident to chat to visitors and excited to talk about what roles they are playing in the Christmas production.

Children say they feel safe at the club and enjoy the activities they have, such as craft and being outside.

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

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the managers consistently reflect on their practice. They continue to work in close partnership with the host school as they endeavour to keep children safe.

When class 'bubbles' were in place, the staff implemented the same procedures at the club.The leadership team is strong and experienced, new staff have recently joined the team. The provider has robust recruitment procedures in place.

This helps to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. New staff talk positively about their recruitment and induction. Their knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and health and safety policies are good.

Children are excited to find a large puddle outdoors. They work together very well as they use equipment to build a bridge across it. Children demonstrate good negotiation skills as they express their ideas and listen to each other.

They show respect for others, even when they disagree.Children build good relationships with staff. Their interactions are warm, fun and friendly.

Staff effectively nurture children and meet their individual needs. For instance, they recognise when children are sitting alone and may need extra emotional support. Staff sit with children and help them to deal with their feelings and support them to engage in play.

When children are not feeling well, staff make sure they feel comfortable and have plenty of water. Providing a quiet area in the club would be beneficial, so that children can rest and relax when they need to.Parents speak positively about the club and staff.

They say children are safe and enjoy themselves. Parents state children have lots of time outdoors, which they feel is good for their well-being after a day at school.Children enjoy creative activities.

They carefully colour in pictures and make Christmas decorations. Staff sit alongside them, joining in the same activities. Conversations are relaxed and friendly as children and staff discuss their different plans for Christmas.

Partnerships with the host school are strong and effective. The staff collect children from their classes. Children's key persons have opportunities to speak to teachers to share relevant information.

This provides consistency of care for children.Leaders prioritise staffs' professional development. Their performance is monitored through regular supervisions and ongoing observations of practice.

This helps leaders to identify training opportunities for staff, to ensure continuity in the standards of care. The provider shows a strong commitment to improvement. Regular feedback from staff enables her to gain an accurate understanding of the quality of the provision and identify what areas to develop.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders and staff have a good knowledge of child protection policies and procedures and are aware of the signs that cause them to have concerns about a child's welfare. They receive regular training to ensure their knowledge remains up to date.

This includes wider safeguarding issues, such as extremism and radicalisation. The provider has robust policies and procedures in place, these are used to underpin their good safeguarding practice. Staff are deployed well to ensure good levels of supervision and support for all children.

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