Playworks Shafton

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements This club, which parents say 'makes a real difference to children's lives', is highly inclusive and welcoming for children. Children are warmly greeted by kind and caring staff who ask them about their day at school. They quickly become immersed in the vast selection of toys and activities that are planned according to their interests and age.

Staff at the club involve children in planning activities and welcome their suggestions. Furthermore, they have excellent relationships with teachers at children's schools. They work closely together to support children's learning.

For example, staff listen to children read their sch...ool reading books and help with homework. This helps children to make even greater progress and complements their school learning. Staff treat children with respect.

Children are aware of the high expectations and their behaviour is good. They display kindness towards each other. Children from the differing schools form friendships and have ample opportunities to socialise.

Children enjoy their time at the club. They become so immersed in activities, such as making butterflies, that they ask their parents to come back to collect them later, as they are having so much fun. They tell the inspector that they particularly like to play in the creative area and make dens with their friends.

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

Staff help to develop children's independence skills. Children know the routines well and wash their hands and take off their shoes on arrival. They self-serve healthy and nutritious snacks and make their own sandwiches and wraps.

Staff notice what children can do and what they need to learn next. For example, they help younger children to develop their skills with using cutlery when eating and preparing food.Leaders and staff at the club place a high importance on promoting children's good mental health.

They recognise that for some children, the last few years have been difficult as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They notice that some children experience feelings of stress after the school day. As a result of this, they have recently created a calm, mindfulness area where children can relax and regulate with sensory toys or by listening to calming music.

When children talk about their worries about transitioning in school, staff sensitively support them. They provide coping strategies and advice for parents. This helps to promote children's well-being.

Opportunities for children to learn about how to keep themselves healthy and safe are plentiful. Dentists visit to teach children about oral hygiene. Children learn about foods with brain boosting benefits and talk about how 'food is mood'.

Staff educate children and parents about how to stay safe online and the risks of 'stranger danger'.The club has developed effective partnerships with the two schools that they serve. They find out about children's days and pass on this information to parents and carers.

In addition to this, they work in conjunction with schools to implement strategies to support individual children's behaviour or specific needs.Children learn how to be good citizens and make valuable contributions to society through the club's many links with the community. They plant flowers and litter pick to improve the appearance of the local area.

Staff are excellent role models for children, who are respectful and kind. They teach children to value and respect differences and celebrate their uniqueness. This helps to prepare children for life in modern Britain.

Parents are complimentary about the club. They say that staff consistently go 'above and beyond'. The owner is dedicated to providing wider support to families.

She signposts to local services and agencies, donates surplus food to families, and provides free sessions to those children who may benefit the most. Parents feel that communication from the club is good and that they receive the necessary information they need.Staff report high levels of well-being and say that they enjoy working here.

The dedicated and passionate owner, who is also the club manager, encourages staff to make the most of opportunities to extend and enhance their professional knowledge and skills. This helps to improve the quality of this setting further.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a good awareness of the signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of abuse. There is a clear policy in place for reporting concerns regarding children's welfare. The owner ensures that the suitability of people who work with children is extensively checked, and that staff undergo a thorough induction process.

This helps to keep children safe. Children are well supervised and robust procedures are in place for taking them to and collecting them from the two feeder schools. Regular, comprehensive checks of the building help to minimise potential hazards for children.