Play 4 Ages

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements From the moment children arrive, it is evident that the nurturing staff are delighted to see them.

Staff greet every child by name and ask them about their day. Children speak with them before they happily settle down to play with their favourite activities. This supports children to make a calm transition from school to the club.

Staff involve children in planning what they would like to do, as well as providing new resources to stimulate children's curiosity. Children find their friends, and very quickly there is the pleasant hum of busy, happy children deeply involved in play.Children's behaviour and attitudes towards o...ne another are wonderful.

Staff create a safe, warm and welcoming environment. They build strong relationships with children to provide them with the emotional security they need to flourish. Children understand the expectations for their behaviour, such as not disturbing one another's play.

To support this, staff provide distinct spaces for different activities. This means children can fully enjoy playing in the way that suits them. For instance, children find cosy corners to read while others build with construction toys, or play table tennis.

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

Leaders have a deep understanding of how children play. They use their knowledge to provide high-quality care and resources that meet the needs of all children. Leaders ensure the welfare of staff and provide them with opportunities to gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their role.

As a result, staff and leaders take pride in their work and enjoy being part of a happy, professional team.Staff interactions with children are of a consistently high quality. They initiate conversations with children, who love to share their stories and jokes with them.

Staff seamlessly fit in with children's play. For example, they encourage children to persevere when they engage with a 3D puzzle. As children try hard to complete the challenge, they are offered words of encouragement and praise.

This provides children with a sense of achievement and the desire to keep practising new skills.Children demonstrate self-assurance and self-confidence. They know that their views are valued and that their opinions matter to staff.

For instance, staff write down children's choices of activities. They make sure these are available for them the next time they come to the club. Children's comments are captured by staff and displayed alongside photographs of things they have made.

Children confidently express their thoughts and ideas.Staff provide children with exciting resources that stimulate their imaginations.Children work cooperatively to create stories, such as when they play with the small-world toys or make their own props with construction toys.

They have space to develop their imaginative play. Children love it when staff step in and play alongside them.Staff are good role models for children.

They demonstrate respect and kindness in their interactions. They help children understand and accommodate each other's feelings. They provide children with opportunities to explore and appreciate their community, cultures and backgrounds.

For example, children have recently enjoyed activities planned around the Lunar New Year. Children develop their sense of self and realise they are unique and special people in the world.Staff understand the importance of providing healthy foods and they present children with a varied and nutritious menu.

They encourage children to make healthy choices, both while they are in the after-school club and when they are at home.Staff foster strong partnerships with parents and other professionals who work with children. They share information between the school and the parents at the end of the day.

They provide parents with ideas, such as around healthy eating, and safer internet usage, to help them support their children at home.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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