Mega Camps Maidstone

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements All children are excited to be at the camp and are enthusiastic to join in with the challenging and motivating experiences carefully planned for them. They are very settled, confident and happy during their time at the camp. Children engage in their choice of activity with high levels of independence.

For example, they recap the safety rules of using the climbing wall. Once they have a harness secured, they speedily ascend the wall. They beam with pride at their achievements and are encouraged and supported by their friends as well as staff.

Staff implement their plans and play opportunities well. They include the ideas an...d suggestions from children. This successfully helps to engage children in the activities and experiences.

For example, children enjoy a story about a rainbow fish. Staff encourage children to create their own unique patterned fish and children name their fish with pride. Staff are positive role models.

Children are polite and behave well. They know what is expected of them. Children happily play together and compete in games with good levels of maturity, such as when safely participating in activities such as basketball and axe throwing.

Children develop a good understanding about the importance of healthy lifestyles. For instance, staff encourage children to talk about the importance of making healthy choices at mealtimes.

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

All staff establish secure and trusting relationships with children.

They get to know their individual personalities and what makes them unique before the beginning of each week of the camp. This includes learning about children's likes and dislikes.Staff ensure they engage all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

They adapt all activities accordingly to ensure all children can join in with the planned activities. The camp is inclusive for children of all ages and abilities, including those with SEND.Staff encourage children to take ownership of the camp.

They listen to their ideas and ensure that they feel valued. Staff take into careful consideration any suggestions and feedback to implement into their future camps to continue to enhance their appeal. For example, the managers highlight they would like to continue to build on the already vast range of experiences for children, such as introducing karate and yoga.

Staff help make children feel welcomed and safe. Therefore, children enjoy the company of staff. For example, they are keen for staff to join in with their games and often want to show them their ideas and creations.

Staff support children to feel confident to communicate and share their thoughts and ideas. Children are confident to request something during their time at the camp. They enjoy a wide range of activities that support their listening and speaking skills and children listen to each other with respect.

For instance, they are confident to share their thoughts and narrative during imaginative play.Staff provide children with a wide range of physical play opportunities. For example, they confidently negotiate space and explore different ways to move as they play games, such as laser tag, cheerleading and trampolining.

All staff support children to develop a good knowledge and understanding of other people from around the world and outside of their own experiences. This includes traditions of other countries and religious beliefs. Staff encourage children to learn about other religious beliefs, such as Sikhism.

Children are confident to share their own traditions, such as showing their friends the Indian traditional dance of bhangra.The manager and staff evaluate their practice together effectively. At the end of each day, they discuss how well they feel children enjoyed their experiences at the camp and what they could enhance further.

Staff use their findings to support their future plans for the next camp.All staff establish positive relationships with parents. They communicate with them at the end of each day.

Staff keep parents fully informed about their children's time at the camp. This includes sharing what they have enjoyed doing.The manager and staff use additional funding to meet the individual needs of children effectively.

For instance, they provide children with healthy balanced lunches.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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