Linden Stay and Play Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enjoy a wide variety of activities at this welcoming club. They are safely collected from their classrooms by the staff and arrive smiling and happy.

Children confidently make choices, such as if they want to have a snack or do an activity first. They know that the staff listen to and value their opinions. This adds to their sense of belonging in the club.

Children develop warm and friendly relationships with staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure. They respond positively to the staff's high expectations, and their behaviour is consistently good.Children of different ages get on exceptionally well at the ...club.

They form firm friendships and enjoy each other's company. Children talk happily together as they take part in games and activities. They are highly creative and keen to explore their own ideas.

For example, during art activities, children design and make their own unique pictures for Christmas using the wide range of resources available. Children demonstrate excitement as they create different pictures with pegs on a board. They encourage each other and make positive comments about their peg creations.

This supports children's confidence and self-esteem.

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

Staff are positive and enthusiastic about their work with the children. They say that they thoroughly enjoy working at the club.

Staff receive regular supervision and training to help them fulfil their roles and responsibilities. They say they are well supported by the manager. This helps them to maintain a high quality of practice.

Children are keen to share their views about the club. They describe staff as 'kind and responsible'. They talk enthusiastically about their favourite activities and say they like being with their friends.

Staff use the children's ideas and interests to help them plan the activities. For instance, children are interested in creating models with bricks. In response, staff ask questions and provide materials that children can use to explore their ideas.

This ensures that children are consistently involved and engaged at the club.Children show kindness and respect for others. They listen to each other's views and opinions.

This often leads to lively discussions, such as whether only girls like the colour pink. Staff support these conversations and help children to rethink preconceived ideas and stereotypes. This helps to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed.

Staff communicate effectively with parents, who in turn, speak very highly of the club. They say the staff are friendly and helpful. Parents comment that their children are well looked after.

They are pleased to have a safe and nurturing place where their children can play happily after school.Staff gather important information about children's individual needs. This is particularly effective as all of the staff work in the host school during the day.

This means that staff know each child incredibly well. This helps them to recognise any changes to children's health or emotional well-being and take appropriate action.Accidents, should they occur, are dealt with well.

All staff are first-aid trained. They respond promptly when necessary, and information is shared with parents on collection.Staff give children opportunities to build their independence, for example when they help themselves to the many options for snack and carry full plates to the table.

Children show and discuss that they know what is expected of them. For example, they ask for permission to leave their room in order to use the nearby toilets.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of safeguarding issues. This includes issues such as the risks children may face from online abuse or radicalisation. Staff know how to identify signs of abuse and neglect, such as physical marks and changes in children's behaviour.

They know the procedures to follow if they become concerned about a child's welfare or the behaviour of an adult working with children. Staff understand how to assess risks so that children play in a safe and secure environment. The provider carries out robust checks on staff to ensure they are suitable to work with children.

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