Scallywags Activity Club Ltd

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy their time attending this club. When children first start to attend, carefully considered settling-in arrangements ensure that they gain confidence in their new environment and with staff and their peers.

Children have plenty of space to rest and relax, which is often needed after a busy day in school. Children's behaviour is very good. They cooperate, share and take turns.

Staff help children with this, ensuring that all children get to use the most popular equipment. The environment is fun, vibrant and interactive. There is a wealth of exciting play opportunities and games for children to select... from and immerse themselves in, such as games of snooker and basketball.

There are many opportunities for children to be creative. For example, they explore marble painting, negotiating how to keep the marble in the tray. They also enjoy working together on large-scale activity sheets and spend time using stencils to create pictures to take home.

Staff readily involve themselves in children's play, offering much praise for their efforts and positive behaviours. This helps to boost children's self-esteem. Children spend much time outside in the fresh air.

They have access to the secure playground area in addition to a green space under direct staff supervision. There is shelter and shade outdoors to protect children from the rain and sun. Children have their own water bottles and take responsibility for refilling these.

They are provided with a healthy breakfast and after-school snacks, with plenty of variety in the menu. These arrangements help to ensure that children stay healthy and well.

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

The provider and manager respect and value the staff team, including them in important decisions about how the club operates.

Each member of the team is clear about their roles and responsibilities, carrying out their duties diligently to ensure that the after-school session runs well. This effective teamwork approach ensures that children have snacks when they are hungry, play outdoors to expend their energy or jump straight into a range of art and craft activities.The provider and manager meet regularly with the staff team to reflect on practice, identify areas for development and to think about how they can build on children's experiences according to their needs and interests.

Staff receive appraisals twice yearly, with these used to identify training and development needs. Training is often accessed online, with subject areas discussed by the team to look at how it can use what it has learned to build on children's experiences and to keep them safe. Staff say they feel valued and that morale among the team is good.

Positive steps are taken to ensure that the club is safe and suitable for children.This is achieved through effective risk assessment and actions taken to minimise any risks that emerge. This includes the management of children's dietary needs, allergies and medication requirements.

All staff have undertaken safeguarding training, with all demonstrating a clear understanding of the actions to take in the event of a concern about a child or colleague.The provider works closely with the manager and staff team to ensure that children are welcomed into the club and settle swiftly after their day in school. Good relationships are evident between staff and children, with children actively seeking staff engagement in their games and conversations.

Children confidently tell visitors that they love attending the club, which is also reflected in feedback from parents.Children's enjoyment is evident in the animated chatter and laughter heard as they play and engage with their peers, such as when racing on bikes outside or playing a group game of table football. The karaoke club is extremely popular, with children confidently using the microphone while they sing.

Other children dress up and practise a range of dance moves, including breakdancing, under the disco lights.Children are collected by staff from inside the nearby school, with a well-detailed handover given to staff by the school's teachers. This important information is later relayed to children's parents when they arrive to collect their children, ensuring that all involved in the child's care are well informed.

Staff find out about what children are learning in school or if there are areas of learning children require support with. Such discussions have led to children having dedicated time for reading during the session before school to help build their reading ability.Overall, parents are delighted with the service that is provided.

They describe the club as 'amazing' and say their children are very happy to attend. Parents praise the staff and their work with children. Parents like the clubs that are provided on site, such as the darts, multi-sports and karaoke clubs.

However, others would like more flexibility to allow children to stay at school clubs before attending this after-school provision.

Safeguarding

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