Play2gether

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Both children and parents are warmly welcomed each morning by dedicated staff. Parents share information on children's care needs before the children are offered a wide range of activities and experiences, which are tailored to meet their individual needs.

The playscheme runs from a purpose built specialist school. Children spend time in a host of different rooms and areas specifically designed for children with complex needs. Many children are familiar with the environment as they attend the school.

Children and their families feel comfortable as they are in familiar surroundings with staff known to them providing the car...e.Staff support the children to participate in a full range of activities. They effectively plan around children's interests, with a clear focus on adapting activities and experiences, so children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can fully engage.

The staff give children choices and time to indicate their consent. Children's behaviour is good. They are happy and content as they enjoy warm and secure attachments that have been developed with the staff.

The playscheme plays a very important role for children with complex needs and their families. Leaders and staff work hard to support children through the school holidays. They work closely with other settings in the community, who often come to them for support and guidance.

Leaders and staff go above and beyond to support families and children in need. Leaders offer advice and support to any families who need it. The play scheme is a great support to families at what could be a challenging time.

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

The playscheme has robust systems in place to support the children in their care. Parents complete forms and share information relating to children's diagnosed SEND and additional needs. Healthcare professionals share detailed health care plans and procedures to meet needs, tailored for each individual and unique child.

Many children attend the specialist school provision the playscheme is based in. Highly experienced staff, many of whom also work in the school, are allocated as key workers to manage each child's specialised support. Parents are confident children's needs are well met.

Staff are committed to working with both parents and children. They work together to build trusting relationships, ensuring children feel safe and secure with familiar adults. Staff share detailed observations with parents, to highlight children's reactions to the activities they offer.

For example, in the light room, children touch bubble tubes to feel vibrations, look at changing coloured lights or take a deep breath and relax their shoulders as a sign they are enjoying the experience.Children enjoy the activities that take place off the school site. Thorough risk assessments are completed to ensure children's needs are continuously met when on outings.

Staff plan trips to local green spaces. Visits to shops include opportunities to buy ingredients for cooking activities. Children use their senses as they choose fruit by looking, touching and smelling.

They enjoy listening to the sound of the blender before tasting their fruit smoothie.Children's communication is well supported. Children hear lots of spoken language as staff constantly narrate what they are doing.

Children that can use their voice are encouraged to communicate their wants and needs and to join in favourite songs and rhymes. Other children are supported to make choices using their eyes or gestures. Good use of known strategies and systems enable children to make their needs known.

Parents praise the support that they and their children receive from the kind and dedicated staff. Parents enthusiastically state how children smile and become excited as they enter the site and demonstrate their enjoyment at attending the playscheme. Daily face-to-face handovers with allocated key workers ensure that parents are fully aware of the activities and care their child has experienced each day.

Parents are reassured as they know children are safe and their individual needs are consistently met at the playscheme.Leaders and managers have a strong vision for the playscheme, which is shared by staff. Staff feel happy and valued by managers who are passionate about developing staff practice and providing support for children, many of whom have complex SEND.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The staff at this well-run holiday play scheme regularly attend safeguarding and refresher safeguarding training, to ensure their knowledge remains current and up to date. Staff confidently state how they would respond if they were concerned about the welfare of a child in their care.

Staff ensure children's needs are met by completing daily health and safety checks and completing risk assessments for planned activities. Leaders and managers ensure staff suitability by following robust safe recruitment practice. Checks are completed prior to staff commencing work and before each playscheme staff update their information by completing declarations to ensure their ongoing suitability.

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