Owls Kids Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enter the club with enthusiasm and excitement, and quickly begin to talk to their friends from other classes. They are safe and secure, and enjoy the time they spend in this friendly and welcoming club. Staff have high expectations for the children's behaviour.

They are good role models and encourage children to play cooperatively together. This is evident as children play in the role-play area. They imaginatively turn the equipment into a pizza café.

Children pretend to be customers and chefs, and take turns using the toy cash registers and 'cooking' the pizzas. This also helps children to develop their imaginati...ve and creative skills effectively. Children socialise well when they all sit together for tea.

They independently pour their own drinks and clear away their plates and cups, taking responsibility for themselves. Staff interact with children positively and encourage them to use their manners and to hold conversations. For example, children talk among themselves about their own experiences.

Staff develop these conversations, which evolve into a discussion with the younger children about their pets. Staff work well as a team to support the children. They know the children and their individual personalities well.

This helps staff to provide activities that children enjoy and that follow their interests.

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

The manager is well focused and reflects on the provision to identify any areas for improvement. She ensures staff benefit from some development opportunities to increase their knowledge and the opportunities they offer the children.

For example, staff have made role-play boxes. This has added more equipment to the role-play area which has enhanced children's experiences.The manager implements rigorous recruitment procedures to ensure staff are suitable for their role.

She carries out effective induction procedures and monitors staff performance. The manager conducts one-to-one appraisal and supervision meetings to help improve staff's practice. However, these meetings are not regular enough to fully focus on the ongoing professional development of staff.

Staff are experienced. They are passionate about the club. Staff focus well on developing children's social skills and independence.

Children enjoy being with the staff and having the opportunity to see their friends outside school. Staff praise children for their efforts and promote positive behaviour. Children behave well and are polite and respectful towards each other.

This helps to support children's confidence and emotional development.Staff establish good partnerships with parents. They promote successful two-way communication with parents to share information about children's well-being.

Parents express how satisfied they are with the activities provided and the friendliness of the staff. Partnership working with the host school is effective. Staff gather information from the school to ensure children's needs are met.

This helps to provide continuity of children's care.Children's physical health and well-being are promoted effectively. Staff provide healthy snacks and meals.

Children have regular access to the school hall and playground to take part in physical activities. For instance, they use the adventure area to explore and climb. Staff encourage children to follow good hygiene procedures, such as washing their hands before snack and tea.

Children demonstrate they are comfortable in their surroundings and happily move around, choosing freely from the selection of activities on offer. For example, children make a 'dinosaur land' and make roaring sounds as they play. Some children add materials to the craft activity and make owl pictures.

Other children relax, read books or chat with their friends. This shows children are well engaged in their play and enjoy coming to the club.Staff give high priority to safety.

They carry out risk assessments daily to remove any hazards. Security arrangements are in place and known by the children. For example, children know the importance of not playing by the doors and where to go when they play outside.

Staff implement good attendance registers which show when children arrive and depart from the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff are aware of their responsibilities to keep children safe from harm.

They have attended training to increase their knowledge around the wider issues related to safeguarding and child protection. They understand the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and know who to contact if they have a concern about a child in their care. The manager and provider know the procedures to follow should any allegations be made against themselves or staff.

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