Little Gems Kids Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive happy and are confident in this familiar and safe environment. They are eager to talk about their school day and share their news with the group. Children listen intently to each other and eagerly ask questions and have warm relationships with one another.

Children thoroughly enjoy their interactions with staff and often involve them in their play. For example, children negotiate and adopt roles as they play in the pretend shop and others play card and board games with staff.Children show sustained levels of interest in their chosen activities because staff know them well and provide what they enjoy most.

F...or example, children have ample opportunities to use a variety of arts and crafts resources to cut, join and assemble. All children are eager to take part in planned activities and make the very most of what is provided. For example, children carefully think about and discuss how they can make a structure from the marshmallows and dried spaghetti.

Staff are extremely skilled in helping children problem solve and children confidently discuss their ideas. For example, children talk about their three-dimensional creations and discover that pyramid structures are the strongest.

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

The owner and manager work extremely closely to ensure the smooth running of the club.

They lead an enthusiastic staff team that show a genuine interest in the children and their play. There are effective systems in place to monitor staff performance and to promote their well-being. Staff benefit from ongoing support, guidance and training to continually extend their knowledge and skills.

Partnerships with the on-site school are strong. The manager regularly meets with the school head teacher and reception teachers to ensure she is fully up to date and to help provide consistency for children. This strong partnership working means the staff are aware of children's care and emotional needs and how they can support their learning at the club.

For example, staff provide fun activities about animals and life cycles to build on what children are learning at school.Staff regularly consult with children and use their feedback to help evaluate practice and plan enjoyable activities. Children are supported well to think about the needs of others and even the youngest children are confident to ask for what they want.

Children learn to respect each other and their differences but have few opportunities to learn about communities beyond their own experience.This well-established team know children and their families well. They plan well for their assigned key children and know about the uniqueness of each child.

The constant two-way flow of information means parents are kept up to date about their children's care and the club. For example, parents report they value the daily chats during handover times, regular emails and newsletters. They report staff make the time to give them any messages from school and their children enjoy attending.

Staff ensure all children benefit from being outdoors in the fresh air as much as possible. Children use a challenging range of physical play equipment to test and extend their fitness and skills and take part in music and movement sessions. They know about the importance of washing their hands to prevent the spread of infection and about drinking water to keep hydrated.

The snacks provided are healthy and children learn about the benefits of eating a healthy diet.Promoting children's emotional well being, independence and social skills is a clear priority. Children independently select and serve their snack and staff ensure this time is used as a social occasion and encourage conversation.

For example, children talk about their school day, home lives, hobbies and interests. Children behave well and staff reinforce the school codes of behaviour to ensure consistency for them.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There are robust systems in place to ensure all staff are vetted and inducted and their ongoing suitability assessed. Staff are trained and have a secure knowledge of the signs of abuse and the procedure to follow if they have a concern about a child. The manager works closely with the staff at the school to share any concerns about children's welfare and safety.

There are clear procedures in place to ensure the youngest children are safely escorted to and from the club. Children are supervised well at all times and learn how to keep safe. For example, children know which areas of the playground they can use and learn to use scissors safely.

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