Smalley Childcare

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements This family-run holiday club lies at the heart of the local community.

Staff encourage children to have a strong sense of their community and beyond. For example, staff and children collect litter in the local area, helping to keep the environment clean. Children know to wear gloves and use the tools to help keep themselves safe.

Staff and children fundraise for local causes by hosting family events, such as cake sales and quiz nights. Children who speak a different language are encouraged to share their additional language skills. For example, they teach children and staff words and phrases in their home languages.
...r/>This prompts children's discussion about different countries and the languages people speak. Staff have close bonds with the children and warmly greet them. On arrival, children quickly become immersed in a wide range of activities and experiences that staff have carefully planned.

Children show a strong sense of belonging. They communicate with one another, take turns and follow instructions. Staff encourage children to play board games and complete jigsaws together.

Children immerse themselves in their chosen tasks. They enjoy completing a large jigsaw together, deciding which piece goes where. One child suggests using the picture to help them, and with careful precision and dexterity, the children follow this to fit the pieces together.

Children are confident in their skills and are happy to share their achievements as they say, 'Teamwork makes the dream work'.

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

The provider, who is also the club manager, is passionate about supporting staff to understand their roles and responsibilities. For example, staff attend training, such as first aid and food hygiene.

The manager is keen for staff to explore other professional development opportunities to help them gain new skills and ideas. The staff team work together effectively and provide strong continuity of care for the children and their families.The manager builds on staff strengths to benefit the children.

For example, staff who have an interest in sport use their skills to help children learn the rules of football and cricket. Children have a can-do attitude and are keen to try new things.Partnerships with parents are strong.

Parents express how much their children enjoy attending and are eager to tell them about the activities they enjoy. They speak highly of the staff and appreciate the high-quality care their children receive. In addition, parents value the work that staff do within the community.

One parent comments, 'If there were more people like this, the world would be a better place.' Children are supported to understand their feelings and emotions. For example, the staff help the children to design a poster about positivity.

They talk with children about their feelings and sensitively discuss how to be kind and considerate to others. Children describe what makes them feel happy. These conversations help children understand and regulate their emotions.

The manager uses the children's responses to shape the activities provided. For example, staff regularly ask children which activities they have enjoyed. This information helps the staff to plan and extend activities to interest children.

Children behave well and listen and respond to adults. Staff involve children in developing the club rules. This encourages children's sense of responsibility and helps them remind each other about ways to behave.

Children receive encouragement from staff to lead a healthy lifestyle. Staff provide a good range of healthy snacks. Children independently wash their hands before eating and actively discuss the benefits of healthy food.

They have opportunities to be energetic in the outdoor area. In addition, they access quiet and comfortable spaces to rest and relax.Staff provide activities that children of all ages can join in and enjoy together.

For example, children concentrate as they create using clay. Older children add detail to their creations and keenly show the younger children different techniques to help them make patterns. In addition, during a game of bingo, older children help younger children to find large numbers on their game board.

Children are kind and considerate to each other.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children.

They attend regular safeguarding training to keep their knowledge up to date. Staff are confident in recognising the signs and symptoms that indicate a child is at risk of abuse or neglect. They know to report concerns about a child's welfare or the conduct of adults working with children.

Staff recognise local safeguarding concerns, such as grooming, county lines and the 'Prevent' duty. Risk assessments are completed by staff to ensure the premises are safe for children and all hold first-aid qualifications. This helps to keep children safe.

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