Smart Owls Ltd

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children say that they love attending the club. They thrive in the care of professional and dedicated staff, who provide a welcoming, safe and nurturing environment.

Staff involve children when planning and ensure that activities meet their different interests. These opportunities help children to engage well with their chosen activities. Children have great fun as they use the large apparatus in the garden, plant sunflower seeds and use chalk to create small- and large-scale drawings on the floor.

They talk confidently about their creations and favourite games.Children are kind and sensitive to each other. Older children ...include the younger ones in their play.

They also help them when using the outdoor apparatus and while doing puzzles. Children's behaviour is particularly good. They share and take turns nicely, listen to each other, and say 'thank you' to the staff for their help.

Children form strong friendships with their peers. They enjoy each other's company as they play games, eat snack together and play in the home corner. These help them to build on their social and physical skills.

Children develop strong bonds with all the staff, which helps them to feel secure. This is a well-organised club.

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

Leaders have considered the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's well-being.

They have adapted their daily practices to focus on children's personal, social and emotional development. This has had a positive impact on the children, who show high levels of confidence and self-esteem.Communication between school staff and the club managers is effective.

School staff pass on relevant information about the children's day, such as any accident or incident, children's behaviour, or messages for the parents. This ensures continuity of care for the children. Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well.

Staff effectively support children's understanding of being healthy. Children manage their personal hygiene well. They show understanding of the importance of regular handwashing before eating.

Children talk about the importance of exercise and a balanced diet for their health. The club provides healthy and nutritious food. To ensure children's safety, staff follow clear procedures on children's dietary requirements.

Staff at the club understand the benefits of fresh air and exercise for the children. They encourage them to play outdoors in all weathers. Children thoroughly enjoy their time outdoors.

They are independent as they explore the environment and initiate their own play. Children say 'I have a lot of fun playing in the garden with my friends'.Although children are respectful to each other and staff occasionally plan activities and provide some resources for the children to explore difference and diversity, they do not promote children's awareness of diversity as well as they could.

Parents say that children enjoy their time at the club. They praise the dedicated and friendly team. Parents value the information shared with them at the end of the session.

However, managers do not always inform parents about the activities offered. Management gathers information from parents about their children before they join, such as allergies, dietary requirements and support needed. This contributes to children's safety and well-being.

The management team has effective strategies in place to support the staff in the running of the club. Policies and procedures underpin their daily practices. Since the last inspection, staff attended training on behaviour management.

Managers comment that this training has had a positive impact on staff practice. Leaders, with their staff, analyse their provision often to ensure that the services they offer remain of a high standard.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The designated safeguarding lead and staff are confident to identify risks that would pose a threat to children's well-being. They are clear about the procedures to follow should they have a concern about a child's welfare. They understand how to escalate concerns to ensure prompt and appropriate action is taken to keep children safe.

There are rigorous recruitment procedures in place. This helps to ensures staff are suitable to care for children. Effective arrangements are in place to ensure the premises are safe and secure for children to play.

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