Olivers Lodge - Dunmow

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is good • The qualified manager and her team of staff regularly evaluate the club provision.

For example, they continually review how they use an additional room they now have access to. They recognise that mixing the age groups of children more positively supports them to build relationships with others. • Staff work very well together.

They clearly communicate throughout each session and deploy themselves effectively across the areas children use. This enables staff to closely supervise children as they play indoors and outside and respond to any incidents swiftly and calmly. • Staff place a strong emphasis on encouraging children to share their thoughts... and ideas.

For example, children vote for their 'club voice' representatives to lead on weekly meetings. They gain the views of the children and collate a list of their interests for future activities. Over recent weeks, this has led to staff providing children with resources to make bird feeders, truffles and build dens.

• Children show that they feel safe and secure in the club. They confidently ask the staff and other children questions and seek support as they need it. The youngest children benefit from a closely monitored key-person system.

This helps to ensure their individual care needs are consistently met. • Parents are very happy with the care their children receive. They say the staff do an amazing job and demonstrate professionalism when they need to share information of a sensitive nature.

Parents comment on how well children settle into the club and feel that they are always eager to tell them about their day. • Staff do not always provide children with clear information about the range of activities available each day. Therefore, children are not always able to make informed choices about what they play with from the outset.

• At times, staff do not make the most of everyday opportunities to enhance children's understanding of how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

information about the termly topics children focus on at school. This helps staff to

support children as they develop new skills ready for the next stage in their development.

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good Children flourish in this warm and stimulating environment. They show curiosity in their play and are eager to take part in activities that staff suggest. For instance, children explore the outdoor gardens in search of insects and use a magnifying glass to closely observe their findings.

They carefully move aside small wooden logs and scream with delight upon their discoveries. Staff provide children with explanations to improve their knowledge. For example, staff point out the different number of legs on a millipede and a centipede.

They suggest that a spider is likely to be found near to a web. Children enjoy word games and listen carefully to staff as they explain the rules. They enjoy regular opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion.

For example, children speak about their day, tell others about the people who are important to them and discuss what is happening in the wider world. Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good Staff provide children with clear guidance about expectations at the club to help promote their good behaviour. For example, children learn they must not jump on the beanbags and that they should aim to include other children who ask to join in their play.

When staff clap their hands, children know it is time to listen. Staff praise children's efforts and encourage them to work as a team. One of the ways they do this, is to issue children with stickers to recognise their achievements.

Children work hard to gain the highest number of rewards as part of their year group, in order to earn a treat. Children enjoy the responsibility of small tasks. For instance, they collect cups and plates from staff and chop vegetables to help set up for tea in the outside area.

Children demonstrate a good range of physical skills. For example, outdoors, they skilfully climb apparatus and play football. Indoors, they quietly concentrate as they fix together small coloured bands to create a bracelet.

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