School’s Out at Shiremoor

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children come out of school excited and are happy to go the club after their day at school.

Staff pick children up from their classrooms and show a genuine interest in how their day at school has been. They make sure that children are safe on their way to the club. For example, staff regularly count children and encourage them to stay in a line.

Children are excited to see their friends and show staff their artwork from school.The club has access to a dedicated building on the school grounds. Staff plan stimulating environments and activities, indoors and outdoors, with children's interests and ages in mind.

They ...check that that the premises are clean, hygienic and safe for children before they arrive. Staff place a focus on children being out in the fresh air each night. Children can choose to play outdoors at any time and in all weathers.

They are deeply engaged in all the activities throughout their time in the club.Staff know children well. They place a focus on meeting children's care needs.

For example, younger children access their comfort items from home. Staff want children to feel a sense of belonging in the setting. Children decorate stones and put them in a basket on entry to register their attendance.

Staff display children's work and photos of them engaged in activities. Children enjoy looking at these and recalling previous activities. Staff place an emphasis on supporting children's behaviour and helping them to understanding their feelings.

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

Staff encourage children to be independent in the club. Children follow familiar routines, which support their self-care skills. For instance, they come into the club and hang their coats on their pegs, wash their hands and self-serve their tea.

Staff deploy themselves well at these times to support younger children.Children follow healthy lifestyles in club. They patiently take turns to serve themselves their tea from a nutritious platter of fruit, vegetables, ham, cheese, wraps and yoghurts.

Staff remind children to drink water and about the importance of staying hydrated.Most children choose to play outdoors in the club's secure and well-resourced outdoor area. They enjoy being active and using their physical skills.

Children work together to build obstacle courses using planks, tyres, crates and other materials. They amicably choose teams, cheer each other on when racing around the course and give their friends a 'thumbs up'.Staff share information with parents each day at collection times.

They make sure that they pass on any important messages from school. Staff also provide parents with emails and newsletters to keep them informed about their children's time in the club.Children's behaviour is very good.

They listen, follow instructions, play happily together and respect each other's views. This is because staff are kind and caring and model the behaviour they expect. Staff give children specific praise, which helps children to know what they have done well.

Staff plan activities which they know will interest children. They ask children for their views and opinions on the activities they provide. Children know that staff will listen and act on their views.

All younger children are allocated a key person when they are in the club, who know children very well. Staff share and collect important information from staff in school, which helps them to meet children's care needs and children to settle quickly.Staff plan nightly activities around different themes, such as baking, creative activities and science experiments.

Children delight in decorating cupcakes to take home. Younger children cosy up in dens in the quiet room and look at books, while others play imaginatively in the role-play area. Children settle down to colouring in and drawing activities after playing outside.

Staff give children their constant attention and constantly engage them in conversations. Children have lovely attachments with staff and each other. They are confident to communicate their views, wishes and needs.

Parents' views are very positive. They state that their children love coming to the club and often do not want to leave and ask to stay later. Parents appreciate the flexibility the club offers and the different activities their children engage with.

Staff feel very well supported and like working in the club. Managers support staff well. The club has achieved an accredited award for supporting staff's well-being.

Managers value staff and show their appreciation through recognition awards, social events and encouraging team building, such as through exercise sessions.

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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