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Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children play happily together in this stimulating and welcoming club. Staff promote children's independence well. They support children to choose their own resources and create their own games and activities.

For example, children decide to be a team of 'animal detectives' searching for bugs outdoors using digging tools, binoculars and magnifying glasses. Children behave well. They are polite and considerate towards others.

Staff effectively help children who find it difficult to manage their own behaviour to control their emotions. Children have lots of fun during sessions and staff build warm relationships with them.The... manager provides clear and passionate leadership.

His staff have high expectations for children's success and engagement. Children feel safe and well cared for. Staff help children to take good care of themselves.

For example, children understand the importance of washing hands carefully. Children learn to keep safe on the road, for example, during their frequent visits to parks and local places of interest. Staff work in partnership with local schools and community charities to support children's well-being and to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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

The manager provides purposeful leadership to his staff team. He is supported well by the staff and the board of trustees. They share a common vision which is clearly stated in the club's motto, 'Play, Inspire, Empower'.

The staff team constantly aims to improve opportunities for the children in their care. They regularly reflect on their practice and gather the views of children and parents to plan effectively for the club's further development. Staff have well-defined roles and receive useful training and guidance to help fulfil them.

Staff give strong support to the children in the local community and from further afield. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, staff worked closely with the local authority and several charities to ensure that children received activities and resources to support their health and mental well-being. The well-trained staff coordinate effectively with other childcare professionals to provide carefully targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Staff act on children's views and interests to ensure that activities engage and motivate them. For example, children enjoy creating their own play slime as part of their chosen science week activities. They discover that they need to follow a recipe closely to avoid a gooey mess.

Children love exploring their newly developed outdoor environment and searching for insects and plants. Staff recognise that there is scope to provide further reference materials, such as picture charts and non-fiction books, to extend children's engagement.The club actively promotes children's healthy lifestyles.

Staff involve children in planning and preparing nutritious snacks, and to appreciate eating in moderation and making positive healthy choices. They also offer useful information to guide parents in preparing healthy meals and packed lunches for their children.Children settle quickly into the club's routines.

Staff are sensitive to their needs and build warm relationships from the start. They closely monitor children's attitudes and personal development. For example, staff plan activities which encourage children who find it difficult to socialise to play with others.

They help children to be physically active through, for instance promoting soft-play games or sports day activities.Children are well behaved. They play happily with children of different ages and from a range of schools.

Staff help children to follow clear and simple expectations based, for example on respect and kindness to others and appreciating their environment. This is particularly evident in the way children regularly tidy up after themselves before starting new activities.Parents appreciate the care that their children receive and the support and guidance staff offer them.

Staff communicate regularly with parents to share information about the children and their experiences at the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The designated safeguarding lead ensures that staff are trained well in child protection procedures and wider safeguarding issues.

He holds regular discussions about safeguarding at staff meetings and makes sure that staff access the latest guidance. There is a clear policy and prominently displayed posters and leaflets to guide staff, parents and other visitors on how to keep children safe. Staff have a good knowledge of the signs of abuse and neglect and how to report them.