Newton Lang Childcare Tonbridge

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are excited to attend the out-of-school club after their school day. They are happy, relaxed and comfortable at the club.

Children flourish in the care of professional and committed staff, who provide a welcoming, and nurturing environment. Younger children receive effective support from their key person. This helps children feel safe and secure in their surroundings.

The vast choice of activities available ensures all children are happy and remain deeply engaged in play.Children behave exceptionally well. They demonstrate impeccable manners and are kind and supportive to one another.

Staff have high expe...ctations of children's behaviour. They have meaningful conversations with children who listen to one another's views and opinions. Children demonstrate respectful and polite behaviour towards each other and adults.

For example, when children sit down to eat, they wait patiently for their food and say please and thank you. They clear their plates and cutlery when they have finished and effortlessly resume play with their peers. Children enjoy using the outside space to be physical.

They arrange games of football between themselves, practise gymnastics and use the climbing apparatus. Children are very self-sufficient, knowing what they can do. They speak to staff about what they would like out and where they would like to play.

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

Children settle extremely well in the after-school club. The provider has established strong settling-in processes to support this. Staff gather detailed information about children's experiences, medical information, and interests.

This is then used to inform their planning. The staff engage with children in play and help familiarise them with the routines of the after-school club. Children's well-being is high.

Children's safety is paramount. Staff have a clear understanding of how to identify when children may be at risk from harm and the correct referral process to follow. Staff supervise children well in all areas of the setting.

They use walkie-talkies to communicate with one another, ensuring children are always within sight.The provider regularly evaluates the care she provides. She seeks regular feedback from staff, parents and children, making changes where appropriate.

For example, they have recently made changes to the menu to provide a more nutritious and balanced meal for the children. They liaised with the children about their likes and dislikes and encourage them to give new foods a try. Meal times are social occasions, children independently wash their hands before sitting to eat with their peers.

Leaders plan a welcoming club environment for the children. They make full use of the areas within the school to give children a mixture of play activities. Staff deploy themselves well to help children as they play.

They communicate effectively as a team, ensuring children are always supported by a familiar adult. Children know the staff that care for them and invite them into their play. This helps children develop positive relationships.

Leaders have a rigorous recruitment procedure in place to help ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. They support staff well through their induction and probationary period. Leaders work alongside staff, supporting practice.

They have regular one-on-one meetings with managers to plan their professional development. The well-being of the staff team is important to leaders and managers. Staff comment that they feel valued by the management team, and they enjoy working at the club.

Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents comment about the consistency of the staff and how they know their children well. For example, staff speak to parents daily, about the activities their children have taken part in, what food they have eaten and any messages from the school.

Parents report that their children thoroughly enjoy the different activities that they take part in, and often ask to come to the club on days when they are not due in.The after-school-club has good relationships with the host school. They share information regarding children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to provide a consistent approach.

Furthermore, they liaise about the safety and well-being of the children when they transition from the care of the school to the care of the after-school-club.

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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