Ok Mum St Ambrose

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children eagerly enter this setting. They independently put away their belongings before choosing where to play. Chatter and laughter fill the room as children settle into activities.

Staff know children well and carefully consider what the children attending would like to do. Children are engrossed in ball games outdoors. They concentrate well as they try to bounce a ball through a hoop.

Children encourage each other as they persevere with this difficult task. They celebrate their success when the ball finally plops through the hoop. Younger children carefully balance along the climbing equipment.

Staff encourage... them, staying close by to offer reassurance. Indoors, children have an opportunity to complete homework. Staff listen to younger children read as older children read to themselves.

Everyone is busy and engaged in their activity.Children enjoy a healthy snack. Older children support their younger friends, for example, helping them pour drinks.

Children have lots of choice, for example, they choose the type of bread and fillings for their snack. Staff interact well with children. They show genuine interest as children discuss their day at school, their family lives and what football team they support.

Behaviour is generally good. Children share well, show respect for each other and demonstrate lovely manners. Children respond well to the calm and nurturing staff.

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

Managers want children to have fun at the club. They also want them to build their confidence and independence. Children are consulted about activities they might like to do.

They confidently ask staff if they want a different activity out. Staff are incredibly positive about children's work, and they give children lots of encouragement. This helps children to feel good about themselves and build their self-esteem.

A recruitment and induction process is followed for the employment of staff. Managers have recently put in place a more structured supervision and review process to support staff. This has yet to be fully embedded.

However, managers have already noticed positive outcomes. For example, the process is helping to identify training for staff.Staff know individual children well and they work hard to make sure that all children are included and have activities that they enjoy.

They observe children carefully and note their likes and dislikes. Parents say how well the staff do this. They comment on the range of activities, and how their children's individual needs are met.

Partnership work with the on-site school has been well established over many years and this has continued with recent change of headteacher. Staff have close links with the teachers, and they work together on any identified goals for children, sharing ideas and feeding back to parents. This helps children to have consistency between school, home and the setting.

Children generally behave well. Older children show care and kindness for younger children. Staff talk to children about being good role models.

Children talk positively about each other. Where there are disagreements, staff respond quickly. For example, they remind children to take turns at snack time.

Children respond quickly and wait their turn.Hygiene routines are in place and followed well. Children wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

Staff talk with children about healthy choices at mealtimes. They discuss foods that give energy. Children try a range of fruit and vegetables during snack time.

They know foods that are healthy and discuss eating to get energy for playing outside. Children are developing good routines for healthy lifestyles.Safety is considered throughout the session.

For example, children are reminded not to use climbing equipment following the rain as it is slippery. Children have limited use of information and communication technology during the sessions, although computers are available for homework. These have parental controls set so that children can only access appropriate information.

Staff monitor the use of computers. Posters are displayed to remind children of safer internet use. Children have consistent messages about online safety.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the setting. They are equally impressed with the wraparound care and the holiday club. They comment that they 'dread the day' their children have to leave and value the wide range of activities available.

They share that 'no two days are the same' and describe the staff as fantastic, enthusiastic and nurturing. These partnerships help children to settle and enjoy their time at the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Managers and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe from harm. They update their training regularly to keep their knowledge current. They know the signs and symptoms of abuse and what to do if they are concerned about the well-being of a child.

All staff complete paediatric first-aid training and know how to administer first aid. The setting is safe and secure. For example, registers are taken to sign children in and out and children can only leave with a known adult.

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