Penwortham After School Care

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children settle very quickly from the time they first arrive at the setting. They independently make choices in their play and eagerly seek out activities they enjoy.

For example, children concentrate as they skilfully use a range of art and craft materials and play board games together. Staff consistently seek and value the views of children. They plan a broad range of activities and experiences to help keep children interested and engaged.

Children of mixed ages from the maintained school nursery, host school and local schools join together at the club. They thoroughly enjoy each other's company and they behave extremely... well. Children act responsibly and with care and concern for others.

Children's social skills and confidence are strongly promoted. All children keenly follow routines. They know to stop when they hear a whistle, and enthusiastically follow instructions.

Children feel safe and are emotionally secure. Children benefit from lots of physical exercise and fresh air in the large outdoor play areas. They develop their physical skills and coordination by playing football and riding scooters.

Children build very positive relationships with leaders and staff. Staff consistently join children in their play. Children thoroughly enjoy staff's company, keenly playing games and interacting with them.

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

Children's good health is promoted very well. They enjoy freshly cooked, healthy meals before and after school. Following comments from parents, the menu has been reviewed and changed to ensure even more nutritional and healthy meals are offered.

Parents say they are extremely happy with the variety of food provided. Children have ample to eat. They enthusiastically told the inspector that they particularly like scrambled eggs and sausages for breakfast.

Staff sit with children at mealtimes and interact with them very effectively. Children speak with increasing confidence in social situations and are good communicators.Children benefit from a range of technology games and devices.

They play cooperatively with others and demonstrate skilful coordination when using games and programs. Staff supervise children well and show good awareness of online safety issues, so helping to maintain children's safety. Following comments from parents, staff successfully monitor the times when children have access to these devices.

Parents' views are valued and acted upon.The curriculum is highly effective in engaging children, who consistently show enjoyment and curiosity. They have lots of fun at the club.

For example, children concentrated as they drew detailed patterns on Christmas decorations and coloured a Christmas card nativity scene. Staff encouraged children to explore changing textures as they enthusiastically made dough. Staff successfully promoted children's creativity, with children eagerly creating models and shapes.

The manager and staff successfully promote fundamental British values. For example, children learn to value one another's family backgrounds, to behave well and be accepting of other cultures.Partnership with the host school is highly effective.

The manager regularly meets with the headteacher, and staff speak daily with teaching staff. This means that children's individual needs are consistently met and they are kept safe from harm.The youngest children are supported exceptionally well.

Staff gain information from parents about their children before they start attending so that they can get to know them and help them settle. Staff are very supportive and caring. They successfully help the youngest children to follow routines.

For example, they sit with them during activities and at mealtimes to ensure they are consistently supported. This promotes well the youngest children's emotional security and well-being.Effective systems are in place to evaluate staff practice and the quality of provision.

Daily evaluations and monitoring visits ensure the out-of-school club consistently provides high-quality care for all children. Parents comment very positively about the club and say their children are always very eager to attend.Staff receive an in-depth induction to understand their role and responsibilities.

Regular supervision meetings with the manager provide effective support and promote continuous improvement for all staff. The manager is very conscious of staff's well-being. However, even though staff have kept their mandatory training up to date, they have not accessed other training opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills to an even higher level.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager has built successful partnerships with the headteacher and teaching staff from the host school to maintain children's safety. Leaders and staff have thorough knowledge of the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm.

They clearly explain how to report their concerns. They understand their role to protect children from extreme views and beliefs and effectively explain lock-down procedures in case of an emergency. Leaders and staff have a shared understanding and commitment to keep children safe.

The premises are safe and clean with a secure entry system in place. Children's safety is of the highest importance. Staff supervise children extremely well in all areas.

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