OSCA ST JOHNS

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are at the heart of this welcoming out-of-school club. They display a strong sense of belonging and are clearly happy to attend. Children are familiar with the club's daily routines.

They learn the importance of hygiene practices and routinely wash their hands before snack time. Children develop good manners and sit around the table with their peers, engaging in meaningful conversations about their school day. Children's emotional well-being is supported exceptionally well.

After eating their snack, children come together as a group with the club's manager. They display kindness, consideration and patience as they... listen attentively to each other and share their 'daily news'. This helps children to feel valued.

Children discuss their feelings and refer to the 'zones of regulation scale'. They link how they are feeling to a colour. Children confidently share their ideas and strategies with each other.

For example, children who feel 'yellow' relax and read a story in the quiet, cosy area.Children make independent choices about the activities they wish to join in with. They display their creativity as they paint colourful pictures to take home.

Other children choose to go outside to play football with their friends.

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

At the start of each session, before playing outside, children complete a risk assessment of the outdoor area. They enjoy taking responsibility for this and are supported by staff to identify potential hazards and warn the group how to reduce the likelihood of an accident.

Children identify risks they cannot remove. They carefully place a cone on the risk to warn others. For example, children explain that they coned off the slippery parts of the outdoor area in the icy weather.

Partnerships with the host school are strong. Staff speak with children's teachers on a daily basis, which ensures a smooth transition between school and the club. The club operates from the Reception classroom.

This means that children are familiar with their environment and contributes to increased feelings of safety and security.Parents have high regard for the club and staff. They state that 'communication is excellent' and feel thoroughly informed about the activities children take part in.

They comment on the 'lovely atmosphere' and value the time children get to spend mixing with children outside of their own specific class. Parents say that the staff are 'friendly and easy to talk to' and 'really care about each of the students who attend'.The manager has effective procedures in place to evaluate the club as a service to children and their families.

She is constantly looking for ways to enhance their practice and promote an even better experience for the children who attend. Children are invited to share activity ideas and these are facilitated if possible. For example, on the day of inspection children participated in an interactive dance experience on a games console.

Parent feedback is sought throughout children's time at the club. An initial questionnaire is sent to parents following induction. Parents are also invited to share anonymous feedback through a suggestions envelope on the parent noticeboard.

The staff team work extremely well together. They report that they are happy in their role and feel supported by the club's manager and each other. Staff have access to a range of training, including child protection and paediatric first aid.

They report effective supervision procedures are in place. Staff are reflective and talk about their practice at the end of each session.Children benefit from opportunities for fresh air and exercise.

They thoroughly enjoy playing team games and running around outside. Children take turns as they pretend to be the referee in a game of football. They excitedly shoot and score goals, demonstrating pride in their achievements.

Children display upper body strength. They jump, hold and swing on metal bars.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The premises are safe and secure, and staff deploy themselves well to ensure the close supervision of children. Staff communicate with each other via walkie-talkies to ensure the whereabouts of children is consistently known by all staff, despite children moving between indoors and outdoors. The manager and staff have completed safeguarding training.

They have a secure knowledge of the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and understand the procedure to follow should they need to report a concern. This includes concerns about the conduct of a colleague. The manager understands the procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff.

Also at this postcode