Mega Camps Hornchurch

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children have fun as they take part in a wide range of activities and experiences at the club.

They enjoy games, crafts and physical play. For example, children enjoy basketball and creating pumpkin pictures. Large-scale activities, such as animal workshops, bubble football and cake making, are also available.

These activities help children to build on their communication, social, physical and creative skills.New children settle quickly into this safe and welcoming environment. Staff interact well with children, and join in keenly with their play.

This generates interest and conversation. Children are confident an...d have high levels of self-esteem. They behave well and show respect for others.

Children build new friendships quickly, and thoroughly enjoy the activities the camp provides. Children told the inspector how much they enjoy their time at the club, especially the climbing wall and arts and crafts activities.Parents speak very positively about the club and appreciate that staff make their children feel very welcome and quickly get to know them extremely well.

They value the procedures in place to help keep children safe and secure, such as allergy wristbands and the password collection system.

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

The club is run by the dedicated director and his management team. They are passionate about providing a high-quality, inclusive environment.

The management team frequently communicates with staff to evaluate the provision and considers any changes. This helps to ensure continuous improvements in the quality of service. For example, managers have recently identified they would like to increase the quantity of resources for early years children.

Staff benefit from regular training opportunities. Before starting work at the camp, they receive training on safeguarding and behaviour management. In addition, the club provides training from outside professionals, such as sport coaches.

Staff attend a pre-camp day which helps them get to know each other, learn the camp routines and procedures, and plan an enjoyable programme of activities for the children.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the camp has implemented additional hygiene practices, such as more regular handwashing, disinfecting and washing down equipment, and encouraging children to use hand sanitizer throughout the day. Staff report that this has not negatively impacted on the children's experience.

Staff gather information online about children before they join. They also speak to parents when they arrive, and discuss children's individual needs and interests. This is particularly valuable when new children attend the camp, and helps them to feel settled and secure.

Staff provide parents with daily feedback on what their child has enjoyed during their time at the camp.The camp is fully inclusive and effective in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and other vulnerable and/or disadvantaged children. Staff are aware of children's dietary and medical needs, contributing to children's safety and well-being.

Children enjoy spending time with each other, and form positive friendships. They eagerly join in the activities and games, and play cooperatively together. Staff give children choices and encourage them to invent their own games.

For example, children make up their own rules when playing a parachute game.Mega camp activities are adapted for younger children so that games are safe and accessible for all age ranges to enjoy. For example, the dodgeball teams are selected based on age, and each team plays a team of similar age, size and ability.

The camp has recently expanded to offer extra space for children accessing the government Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides some children with a place at the camp, together with healthy meals. Parents providing a packed lunch are given online advice regarding healthy eating and ideas for healthy packed lunches.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a good understanding of how to protect children from harm, and are clear about their role and responsibilities to safeguard children. Staff talk confidently about what they would do if they had any concerns about a colleague's behaviour. They understand how to report these concerns in line with local safeguarding procedures.

All staff attend regular meetings to ensure their safeguarding knowledge is kept up to date. Robust risk assessments ensure that the setting is safe. Safe and robust recruitment and induction procedures help staff to understand their roles in keeping children safe.

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