Marty’s Club Ltd

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children chat with their peers on the walk from school to the after-school club. They independently manage their belongings, such as their bags and coats, following guidance from the staff who care for them. Children know the routines well and proactively work together to collect chairs from the storage area.

Standing in a line, children sensibly pass the chairs to one another, and place them at the tables in the playroom. Children confidently remind the staff of their requests for specific resources, such as the train track. Children happily make their own choices for snacks and drinks at the self-serve snack bar.

Childre...n are keen to engage with an activity of their own choice. They explore and access the inviting creative resources and make Valentine's cards for someone special in their lives. Children use sequins, a good selection of paints and coloured marker pens.

They practise their literacy skills by writing a message in their cards. Staff encourage the children to think of their own special message. Staff support them on the children's request, for example, when they ask how to spell a word that they wish to include.

Children thoroughly enjoy time with their peers. Some group games are totally child-led and initiated. Children play games where one child acts out the behaviour and characteristics of an animal, such as a cheetah or giraffe.

They other children eagerly guess the animals they are trying to be. This creates excitement and laughter amongst the group. Other children cooperatively engage for prolonged periods, building models from interlocking bricks.

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

Staff at the club are aware of their strengths and areas they can improve. They actively seek the children's views when they have funds to purchase new resources. The manager discusses that as this is a pack-away setting, storage of resources creates some difficulties.

Therefore, they are currently saving towards more storage equipment.Staff work very well as a team to ensure the time the children spend at the club is enjoyable. Staff organise the time to ensure all children have the same opportunities, as some children only attend for very short periods.

Staff make available the creative card-making sessions to these children first, so that they too have a Valentine's card, to give to a loved one.Staff listen to what the children have to say about their day in school and their plans for the weekend. The deputy spends time with the children in small groups and on a one-to-one basis, she listens intently as children share their feelings about events in their lives.

The deputy sensitively encourages them to write in their memory books, recapturing and recalling the whole experience. Children write about their pet dogs and their first experience at a school disco. Staff support their written literacy skills well by reminding children to make a 'finger space' between each word they write.

Children have opportunities to practise their mathematical skills, and between them, they work out how many chairs they need around the tables for snack time. Children are also helped to work out what date it will be in two days' time. Children like to spend time with their carers, they frequently invite staff into their games.

Children concentrate and are highly competitive, as they identify and match cards by number, colour or symbol.Children's behaviour is good. The staff act as positive role models; they are polite and kind towards the children and treat them with respect.

Older children spend time talking to, and playing, alongside their younger peers. Older children know the difference between right and wrong, and are beginning to take responsibility for their own actions. Staff support them in learning how to moderate their own behaviour and enthusiastically praise them for playing and working together.

Children's achievements are celebrated and shared with their parents when they arrive to collect their children from the club.Parents spoken to on the day share complete satisfaction with the service they receive. They share that the staff are warm, kind and caring towards their children.

Parents appreciate that their children are kept safe in the club, as strict security procedures are always adhered to. Parents especially appreciate that their children access fun activities. For example, parents say their children complete jigsaw puzzles and play a variety of board games.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Recruitment and selection procedures are robust, ensuring that all staff are suitable to work with the children. Staff understand their responsibilities in keeping children safe, including the procedures they must follow in the event of a concern about a child in their care.

Policies and procedures are in place, including what to do if an allegation is made against a member of staff. Staff actively support older children and their parents to be aware of how to keep safe on the internet. Staff share literature to alert parents of internet sites that are targeted at children, with content that potentially is not wholly appropriate for them.

Also at this postcode