Natural Steps After School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children feel very happy and safe at this warm and friendly club. Staff are enthusiastic and get to know the children well, even if they only attend for a few days during the holiday period.

Staff gather information from parents to ensure they can meet children's individual needs. The allocated spaces within the centre are very safe and secure. Staff are deployed well and consistently support children to engage in their play.

Staff have clear and consistent expectations for children's behaviour. They take time at the beginning of the day to explain the rules of the club. Children demonstrate they know these as they discuss... these with staff and each other during play.

Staff use positive techniques to support the younger children to understand the importance of sharing and taking turns. As a result, children know what staff expect of them.Staff place a strong focus on providing an unstructured, relaxed environment for children out of school hours and during their school holidays.

Children engage very well in their self-chosen activities. The atmosphere is friendly and calm and children display positive behaviour. Staff support children's emotional well-being effectively.

Children develop their social skills and enthusiastically take part in games that require teamwork. For example, they enjoy games such as football or tag and using equipment when they throw beanbags to each other. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are encouraged to participate and enjoy their activities.

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

The provider has a clear vision for providing high-quality care. She seeks the views of staff, parents and children to help identify effective targets and drive ongoing improvements. Following recent feedback from children, staff have introduced further art and craft activities for children.

This helps children to feel valued and listened to and feel a sense of ownership of the club. Children show exceptional concentration skills and commitment to complete complex paintings by number and take great pride in their achievements. Children say they really enjoy spending time at the club.

On the whole, staff support children's physical development well. Children use the spacious indoor room confidently, moving between their chosen activities. For example, they spontaneously select skipping ropes and stilts and have great fun as they master their balancing and skipping skills.

In addition, they access the large sports hall, playing football, and have great fun playing tag.Generally, children are busy and engage in activities during the day. However, there are periods of time when children wait to move on to the next activity and are not offered extra resources or games to keep them fully occupied.

Therefore, at times, children lose focus and concentration.Children relish taking part in art activities. They select craft materials and use colour charts to mix paint and follow numbered pictures, to create complex pictures with acrylic paint.

Staff encourage children to experiment with resources and be creative. Children proudly display their work and help clear away after the activity. This encourages children to respect their play environment.

Staff are very happy in their roles. They report that they love coming to work and feel extremely supported by the manager. They have regular professional development opportunities to further their knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child development.

All staff support children to develop a good knowledge and understanding of the wider world. Children learn about different festivals and traditions of other countries and religious beliefs. Staff encourage children to be respectful of each other and their choices.

The provider and staff establish positive relationships with parents. They communicate with them at the beginning and end of every session. Staff keep parents fully informed about their children's time at the club, including what they have enjoyed doing and sharing activity ideas.

Parents speak highly of the staff and comment that staff make children feel welcome, nurtured and help them to build special friendships during their time at the club.

Safeguarding

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