Lions’ Den Out of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy the time they spend at the welcoming and friendly club. They arrive excited and enthusiastic as they seek out their friends and engage in the wide range of play opportunities available.

Children benefit from having activities based on their individual interests, as they are actively involved in planning the play experiences. For example, among the children's arts and crafts that adorn every wall, is the 'wish tree' the children created. Here, they write their thoughts and ideas that they would like incorporated into the club's activities.

Staff join children in their play. They extend children's l...earning and teach practical skills. For example, children create homemade bubble wands from grass stalks and folding paper to create fans on a hot day.

Children are supported to find their own ways to solve problems. For example, they extend paint rollers with sticks to enable them to reach higher. Children demonstrate their positive attitudes towards their play through high levels of engagement and enjoyment.

Relationships between staff and children are caring and responsive. They have high expectations for children's behaviour and conduct. This is reflected in the children's behaviour and the respectful way they respond to each other.

For instance, older children demonstrate kindness to younger children as they share resources and involve them in their activities.

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

Staff promote healthy eating and help children to understand where their food comes from. Children plant and grow a variety of healthy food that they use for their snack.

They use tools, such as knives, to chop salad and vegetables. Children also share their harvest with the school kitchen. The cook ensures that the ingredients are used and the children are thanked for their efforts.

This helps to develop children's sense of belonging and responsibility.Staff understand the importance of outdoor activities for promoting children's physical and emotional development. They plan a wide range of activities and experiences to encourage children to develop their skills and take appropriate risks.

For example, children particularly enjoy spending time on the large trail area where they can climb, swing and enjoy being energetic. Children explore and construct to create further physical challenge, which they eagerly demonstrate to visitors. For example, they create wobble boards from large stones and pieces of wood and balancing on logs and sleepers.

Staff help children to be respectful, take turns in their play and use manners appropriately. They mirror the school's reward approach, so that it is familiar, and children receive points for acts of kindness to each other. Staff act as good role models and help children to understand that not all people may share the same view or ideas as they do.

Staff build strong relationships with the children in their care. They encourage children to talk about their feelings and emotions. This helps to support their emotional well-being.

The club has effective systems in place to provide children with a seamless transition between the club and the school. For instance, staff take children to their individual classes following breakfast and teachers return children to the club following the school day. Staff speak with teachers when they drop children off.

This creates a two-way flow of information and enables staff to build on children's experiences. For example, staff engage in roles with the children as they practise an upcoming assembly.Partnerships with parents are excellent.

Parents comment positively about the club and the superb care the staff provide their children. They state how their children love coming and often do not want to leave. Parents are grateful for the close relationships staff build with their children to support them emotionally.

Information about play opportunities and photos of their children participating in activities are shared regularly and valued by parents.The committee and staff team work together effectively. The experienced staff team has worked at the club for a long time and its members report that they feel supported.

Staff access regular training to keep their knowledge and skills updated. They regularly discuss practice and involve teaching staff from the school to evaluate the provision as they continue to strive for improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff are vigilant and understand their responsibilities for keeping children safe from harm. Staff receive regular supervision meetings and understand the procedure for raising concerns. They have excellent knowledge of the signs and symptoms children may display if subjected to different types of abuse.

Additionally, staff receive regular training covering broader safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation and county lines. They are aware of procedures to follow in the event of an allegation against a member of the staff team. The partnership with the headteacher in school promotes effective information-sharing and consistency for safeguarding the children.

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