Little Deers Children’s Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

The provider has a clear vision for the club and is keen to provide the highest-quality care for children. She has put a lot of thought and effort into making sure the children who attend experience seamless transitions.

For example, children who also go to the school nursery are brought through to the club before the other children are collected for home. Children enjoy sharing a familiar story as part of registration time. Staff read in a way that excites and amuses the children.

They use good intonation and a range of voices to bring each story to life. Staff know their key children well. They use different themes t...o plan the curriculum and skilfully weave in opportunities for children to work on their next steps in learning.

For example, a current focus on the story of 'The Gingerbread Man' leads children to discuss how they can use tools to make a gingerbread man from soft dough. They practise their scissor skills as they cut out pictures of the characters and learn how stories are structured with a beginning, a middle and an end. Children show that they feel safe and secure in the club and take great pride in their achievements.

They behave very well and promptly respond to staff instructions, for example when it is time to work with their friends to tidy away the toys.

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

The provider has a good awareness of the current strengths of the club and where she can make further improvement. For example, she has implemented a new system of support to monitor staff practice more closely and target ways to further enhance their good-quality teaching.

However, this is still at the very early stages.The provider places a strong focus on the well-being of her staff team and values the individual skills they each bring to the club. Staff are invited to attend regular meetings to share their views and gain information.

They have the opportunity to request their chosen hours of work to fit in with their own lifestyle.The provider values the ongoing commitment of staff from the school to help promote consistency for every child. The school staff make a point at each session to share pertinent information about the children they share care for.

This provides the club staff with details such as the activities children have enjoyed and those who may need more frequent reminders to use the toilet.Information is presented clearly to children, and staff teach them in a way that helps to consolidate their learning over time. For instance, staff revisit the same information with children across a range of the activities that they provide.

Children show a positive attitude to learning and high levels of engagement when they are free to choose their own activities. However, the timing of the planned activities does not always take into account nearby distractions or the different abilities and interests of all the children, so that they are able to sustain high levels of focus.Children show an ability to persevere and gain some of the essential skills they need for future learning.

For example, they find their own belongings and use a technique they have learned to put their coat on independently. Children ably manage to secure coat zips and buttons as they get ready to play outside.Children take part in exciting and imaginative activities to observe how they are similar or different to the other children.

For example, as the club bear whispers to staff a description of who he would like to go home with, the children look at the clothes they are wearing and the colour of their hair.Children develop increased levels of confidence and gradually begin to take on the responsibility of small tasks. Through focused support and encouragement from staff, children who initially prefer to observe activities quickly become eager to participate.

Staff monitor the lunches children bring from home. They ensure the club policy to meet children's dietary requirements is strictly adhered to. Staff make sure children spend time outdoors every day and have regular drinks of water.

This helps to promote their good health.Parents and carers have high praise for the club and describe the staff and environment they have created as nurturing. They say the children are always excited to attend and state that they feel the progress their children make is impressive.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a secure understanding of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child who is at risk of harm. They know the correct procedures to follow if they have any concern about a child or the behaviour of another staff member.

The provider regularly tests staff on their understanding of safeguarding issues. This helps to ensure that all staff know they have a duty of care to the children and where they can gain further support and guidance from within the club or through outside agencies.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nembed the new system of support for staff to monitor and develop their practice and help raise the level of teaching to a consistently high quality review the organisation of planned activities to minimise disruptions to children's focused attention and be more flexible to their different abilities and interests.

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