R.D. Out of School Care

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are greeted by friendly and kind staff. They enter the club confidently, putting away their belongings and quickly settling into play.

Children happily greet their friends and explore the wide range of resources on offer. They show they feel safe and secure as they openly talk about their school day and home life with staff.Children are free to make choices.

They select from the wide variety of arts and crafts available. Staff are involved in children's play and offer support when needed. For example, staff help children with techniques to wind materials together to create models.

Children show pride as t...hey display their creations for all to see. Children smile and play cooperatively together as they play board games. Older children support their younger friends to join in and help them to play the games provided.

They take turns and practise their concentration skills. Children have the opportunity to relax. They settle down and enjoy stories read by staff.

Staff ensure children are actively involved in making decisions. For example, children express their interests in what they would like to do at the club. They are involved in planning the weekly menus.

This supports children's confidence and self-esteem as they know their ideas are valued.

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

Staff are good role models and encourage children to be respectful towards each other. They help the children to follow daily routines and are consistent with the rules they apply.

This helps to support children to behave well and contributes to the positive and calm atmosphere of the club.The arrangements for settling children into the club are effective. Staff gather information about children from parents and their teachers.

They use this information to meet children's needs and to find out what they like doing. This means the experiences the staff provide are enjoyed by the children and help them to settle when they first start.Children develop their independence.

They put away their belongings, tidy up and meet their care needs. However, the well-meaning, nurturing staff do not always encourage children to do things themselves. For example, at mealtimes, staff do not give children the opportunity to prepare their food or pour their drinks.

Parents are very complimentary about the club, and the service staff provide for them and their children. They say staff communicate with them as they collect children and via emails. They know that their children are safe and happy.

Parents describe the club's staff in a positive way and say their children are always excited to attend.The manager and staff work closely with the host school. Children continue learning from school at the club as they follow the school's themes and topics.

For example, staff continue learning about diversity and inclusion. They use the school's resources, such as slide shows, to continue discussions. School teachers share information with staff when they drop the children at the club.

This ensures important information is shared between staff, teachers, and parents.Children enjoy a variety of well-balanced evening meals. Staff talk to children at mealtimes about making healthy choices, and children are offered a selection of fruit daily.

Staff provide opportunities for children to be physically active, as they provide games in the school playground. However, staff do not always promote the importance of hygiene. For example, children are not encouraged to wash their hands before eating.

Staff complete risk assessments to ensure hazards are minimised before the children arrive. Effective procedures are followed by staff for the management of children's dietary requirements. Children's safety at the club is well managed.

The manager ensures that she and her staff have completed mandatory training. They recently attended training to refresh their knowledge of safeguarding. There is an effective range of policies and procedures to help the manager and staff organise and run the club.

However, the arrangements for the supervision of staff are not yet fully embedded to provide a consistent approach to supporting all staff.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff have a good understanding of how to keep children safe.

They can identify signs of abuse and know to report their concerns if they suspect a child may be at risk of harm. The staff know their duty of care towards children and their families. They know the indicators of domestic abuse.

The manager has strong knowledge of the referral procedures for reporting concerns to the local authority. The staff team have a good understanding of the club's whistle-blowing policy. The manager follows procedures to ensure that employees are suitable to work with children and ongoing suitability processes are in place to check that staff remain suitable.

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