Smalley Childcare

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enter the club with enthusiasm, eager to take part in the activities on offer and to meet their friends. They have the opportunity to choose what they would like to do and move around the room with confidence, choosing what to play with.

Children form relationships with staff who listen to them and engage in conversations about their day at school. Children receive the staff's attention which helps to extend their play. For example, staff suggest to children playing with the dinosaurs to go on a safari.

This inspires the children who go off and collect army trucks and jeeps to join the dinosaurs. The children play... together with their friends, sharing the dinosaurs and cars and make up their own game. Children draw pictures with detail and have pleasure in telling visitors about their drawing.

For example, they explain the shark has enormous teeth and he is chasing the man in the boat. Children further express their creative ideas as they make masks. They relish this activity and enjoy sticking sequins, stars and feathers onto their masks.

They say, 'I like making my mask, it's for a special party'. Staff use this moment and talk about masquerade balls being a special party. This not only extends children's knowledge but also their vocabulary.

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

The providers have a clear overview of the club. There are effective systems in place for staff to regularly meet, to discuss the activities they provide and review the service they offer. Staff benefit from training to enhance their knowledge and skills.

For example, they attend a course on sign language to help children who speak English as an additional language to communicate. They say this helps because the children now sign to each other as part of their communication skills.Staff interact with children with enthusiasm and get down to their level to talk with them.

Older children and younger children play cooperatively together. They are confident and develop a positive sense of achievement. For example, children complete a complex jigsaw puzzle.

They work together and decide where the pieces fit. Staff give the children some support and plenty of praise, which helps build their self-esteem.As a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, parents are not allowed inside and handover happens outdoors.

Staff make the time to give them feedback about their child's time at the club and pass on any messages from the school. Parents speak very highly of the club. They have the utmost praise for the rapport the staff have with the children.

They comment that their children are happy and enjoy the activities on offer, especially the art and craft one. The head teacher at the school is also complimentary and comments that 'the children are in good hands' while at the club.Promoting children's emotional well-being and social skills is a clear priority.

Staff consult with children regularly to find out about what they want and use this information to plan activities. They ask children their opinions, such as whether they want to change activities. This helps their future learning as they learn to appreciate other children's different opinions.

Staff provide activities in the school grounds, where children learn to play team games, such as cricket and football.Staff promote children's behaviour and self-care skills, overall. They encourage children to be responsible for putting their coats and bags safely on pegs as they arrive.

Children wash their hands before snack and help to tidy away their plates after eating. Children can move around freely and self-select their play. However, there are times when they have to wait around for long periods of time.

For example at snack time. Children become very noisy and some children walk around with nothing to do and become disruptive.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The providers and staff know their responsibilities to keep children safe from harm. They know the correct procedures to follow to report concerns about the welfare of a child. They attend regular safeguarding training to keep themselves up to date with any changes to legislation.

The providers follow safe recruitment procedures and ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Staff supervise children all the time and have procedures to ensure children cannot leave the club unsupervised. They undertake effective risk assessments to promote children's welfare and maintain a safe environment.

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