Precious People Before and Afterschool Club at High Meadow Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children smile excitedly and chat away with each other and staff as they arrive at this friendly and well-organised club. Staff ask children about their day and check in to see how they are feeling. This supports children's well-being and helps them to feel safe and secure.

Staff plan interesting and exciting activities effectively that reflect children's personal interests. For example, older children challenge each other to a game of table football and younger children enjoy using building bricks to make towers and castles. Children are very involved in club life and their views are valued.

The staff consistently find wa...ys for children's opinions and ideas to be heard and implemented across the club effectively, for example children made and posted cards to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the King's coronation.Children are supported by staff to undertake tasks that help them to develop a sense of responsibility. For example, they manage their own risk when assisting staff to complete safety checklists to ensure that gates are locked, and the area is clear, before children are allowed to go outside to play.

Children's behaviour is good. They are polite and follow the club's rules and routines readily. Their behaviour and personal achievements are consistently recognised by staff, and children proudly receive stickers and certificates in recognition of their efforts.

Children play happily alongside their friends, and children of all ages play well together. Staff are excellent role models, and children have respect for the adults that play alongside and support them.

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

The manager passionately strives to provide high-quality care for children.

She consistently works in partnership with parents and children to evaluate all aspects of the club. The manager and her team continually adapt their provision to enhance children's experiences and meet their individual needs. The manager is enthusiastic and dedicated in her approach to providing a club that is exciting and engaging and reflects the interests of all children.

Strong partnerships with parents are established. Parents are very positive about the club. They report that the manager and staff diligently support their children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to settle at the club quickly.

They state this helps their children to feel, happy, safe and secure. Parents praise the way in which the personal needs and interests of their children are recognised and supported by the empathetic team of staff.Staff work closely with the headteacher and teachers, including the special educational needs coordinator, at the host primary school that children attend.

They communicate daily and share information about children's individual needs. For example, they receive information about children who may need more support on certain days, as their day at school has been different to usual. This helps to support children's overall well-being and ensures that all children, including those with SEND, have the same access to the club.

The manager and her staff work as an effective team and communicate well. They deploy themselves to ensure good supervision of the children. They consistently check and record the numbers of children as they move between the indoor and outdoor environments.

The manager and staff keep children safe as they implement and follow robust security procedures during pick up times and throughout their provision.Children are provided with a safe and secure environment to play and learn in. They are happy, active, and well engaged in their play.

They test their skills in the outdoor space as they carefully jump along tyres and enjoy sports, such as cricket and archery. Staff support children effectively to work and play together as a team. For example, they support children to hold and swing a long skipping rope for children to jump over.

Staff model and adapt the speed at which they turn the rope to support younger children to access this activity.Children are confident and at ease within the club. They state that they really enjoy going to the club and proudly share their favourite activities.

Children build on their social skills, demonstrating kindness and respect to one another. They develop friendships with children across the school. Children excitedly talk about their plans to develop a friendship garden, where they will grow sunflowers to illustrate the care and attention that needs to be given to successfully grow flowers and friendships.

The manager undertakes performance appraisals and regular supervisions with staff to identify key areas for professional development. Staff receive regular safeguarding training at monthly staff meetings to keep their knowledge and understanding of child protection updated. They also refresh their first-aid training regularly.

Some staff are completing relevant child related qualifications to further their knowledge and enhance the work they do at the club.

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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