Kidspace Conkers Before and 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 club and happily greet staff as they hang their coats and bags up, showing they know the routine well and understand what is expected of them.

They politely answer when their name is called to register, before choosing what they would like to do from a range of interesting games and activities. Children are learning to take responsibility for themselves and others. For example, they take turns to be 'Star Helper' and show confidence and care as they serve their peers at snack time.

They actively support one another through the buddy system which staff have introduced to pair up older children with yo...unger children. This is helping new children to settle in quickly and make friends with different age groups. Children have lots of opportunities to enjoy the outside environment.

They join in active games, and staff help them learn how to play safely as they remind them to take care so that they do not run into one another. Children play cooperatively, which helps them to develop social skills. Children enjoy the natural world as they take responsibility for weeding the vegetable garden.

They decorate pots which they use to plant pumpkin seeds and talk with staff and one another about what they will need to grow.

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

Managers have a clear vision for the club and say they want children to have fun and extend their horizons through a wide range of interesting and exciting experiences. They provide staff support and ensure all required training updates are completed.

The staff know the children well. They get to know them before they start at the club by attending school open evenings and offering support to children during settling-in sessions. They ask about what children like and dislike and then thoughtfully plan themes and activities based on what they are interested in.

Staff support children to engage in a range of different games and activities. They play bingo together as older children call out numbers and staff support younger children to recognise the numerals on their bingo cards. Other children enjoy balancing wooden blocks and use their imaginations as they carefully build small blocks into intricate patterns.

Children behave well. Staff are warm and respectful towards children and children respond in the same way. Staff encourage children to behave well and use lots of praise.

They remind children about club rules, such as being kind, respecting toys and being good listeners.Staff encourage children to think about the world around them and how to take care of the planet. For example, they show children how to make play resources using junk and everyday items.

Children and staff make a doctor's reception window out of the side of a large cardboard box, which children use in their imaginative play. Staff encourage children to use whiteboards for drawing and writing to reduce the use of paper.Staff actively seek written feedback from children and parents and make changes based on what they say.

For example, children said they would like different snacks and staff have introduced new items, such as breadsticks and dips.Staff have a good understanding of the needs of children who require additional support. They are committed to providing an inclusive environment and giving extra support to those children who need it.

Staff actively welcome children from other schools in the local area as well as those who attend the school hosting the club.Parents say they value the club and the holiday activities and feel their children are safe and well cared for. Communication with parents is good.

Staff send out newsletters to parents to keep them up to date with plans for future activities. They talk with parents when they collect their children about their child's day and what they have been doing. Children say they like coming to the club because they like to play with their friends and enjoy the creative activities and the snacks provided.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. They are aware of what to do if they are worried about a child.

The manager carries out appropriate recruitment processes to ensure all staff are suitable to work with children. The manager assesses risk of activities children are involved in, and staff regularly check for potential hazards to ensure the environment is safe for children at all times. Staff regularly update their safeguarding knowledge through discussion during staff meetings and supervision sessions with managers.

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