Knutz Out of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive happily at the after-school club and are excited to find out what activities are available.

Staff use children's interests and experiences to inform their planning. For example, younger children have enjoyed their Christmas parties at school and staff continue the theme with a variety of seasonal craft activities. Children have access to a wide variety of age-appropriate activities and resources, such as indoor bowling and outdoor sports resources.

Staff also ensure that children can enjoy more sedate activities such as chess and crafts.Children are highly confident. Staff support this by offering praise fo...r children's efforts and achievements throughout the session.

Children are encouraged to take on age-appropriate responsibilities to further support their self-esteem. For example, children delight when staff allow them to dry plates and cups ready for the next day. Children engage well with visitors.

Younger children chat excitedly about the party they have attended at school. Older children talk confidently about the activities they enjoy at the after-school club and their favourite snacks.

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

Children have plenty of opportunity to engage in physical activities.

They enjoy daily sessions of outdoor play, where they make up games with their friends in the large, secure playground. Staff provide resources to encourage physical development indoors. For example, children organise their own bowling competitions in the dining hall.

Staff promote healthy eating well. Children sit together at tables and prepare their own sandwiches and wraps, using fresh vegetables and other tasty toppings. They have access to drinking water and fresh fruit throughout the session.

Children form close bonds with the nurturing staff. Staff are swift to identify when children behave out of character. They engage with children and encourage them to discuss what is on their minds.

Children develop close friendships with each other and are kind. They help one another in tasks such as completing tricky puzzles, and happily invite others into their group play.Staff communicate well with parents.

They share information verbally about children's time in the after-school club, as well as passing on information about their day at school. The provider keeps parents up to date about planning themes and activities with regular newsletters.Children demonstrate they feel secure at the after-school club.

They are familiar with the routines and follow them well. Children arrive in an orderly manner and wash their hands before sitting down to enjoy their snack. Once finished, they tidy their plates and cups away before playing with their friends.

Partnerships with the host school are strong. Staff collect younger children from their classrooms. This enables them to gather information about the children's day at school, and offer additional support if necessary.

The after-school club works closely with pastoral staff to mirror the school's behaviour management strategies. This provides consistency for children and supports their positive behaviour.Children behave well in the after-school club.

They have a good understanding of how to play cooperatively and the need to take turns during activities. Staff encourage children to develop these skills by providing sand timers, which children use independently to monitor their turns in popular activities.The provider supports staff development well.

She conducts regular appraisals and supervisions for all staff to identify areas of development. Staff have access to numerous online training opportunities to enhance their knowledge. Senior staff engage in high quality training initiatives to develop their management skills.

This prepares them and supports their confidence for taking on additional responsibilities.The provider regularly evaluates the service she provides. She seeks feedback from staff, parents and children, and makes changes where necessary.

This ensures that the club continues to meet the needs of all children. For example, staff identified that the main hall became a little noisy and daunting for the early years children. Younger children now spend most of the session in their own group that is led by highly qualified early years staff.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The provider, manager and staff all complete regular safeguarding training in line with local authority guidelines. They have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms which could indicate that a child is at risk from harm.

Staff talk confidently about the correct referral procedure to follow when raising concerns. Staff work closely as a team to ensure that children are within sight at all times, and supervise activities well. They complete comprehensive risk assessments before each session to ensure that the environment is safe for all children.

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