Smart Zone Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are excited as they arrive at this caring and nurturing after-school club.

Staff greet them with a warm welcome and children are keen to tell staff about their day at school. Children select activities quickly and become engrossed in their play. They show high levels of individuality and are confident to ask staff for resources they would like to play with.

Children enjoy their time outdoors and have regular opportunities to play in the fresh air. They benefit from a variety of resources that build their physical skills and resilience. For instance, younger children practise balancing on skateboards and older chil...dren climb and balance on play equipment.

Staff support children's growing independence. For example, they teach children how to score goals in a hoop by pushing the ball higher and encourage children to keep going when they find it hard. Children try again and again until they succeed, showing determination and focus.

Children develop good communication and social skills. They talk with other children and staff during activities and mealtimes. They ask questions, listen to others and confidently respond to questions asked of them.

They enjoy these times, which are filled with laughter and discussions.

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

Staff provide learning opportunities based on the interests and ages of the children who attend. They involve children in making choices.

For example, they ask children what toys and activities they would like to see at the club and buy new resources they have asked for. This supports children's growing self-esteem and encourages positive attitudes and enthusiasm during their play.Leaders and staff meet the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well.

They put support for children in place to ensure they can fully enjoy their time in the club and join in with activities.The staff work closely with the host school and regularly share information. They meet with teachers when taking children to and from the school each day.

Children benefit from these discussions about their learning and care needs. For example, staff find out when children have been upset in school and provide additional attention, so children feel cared for.Staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe.

They supervise children at all times and teach children about how they can keep themselves safe. For example, children learn how to leave the building safely if there is a fire.The leaders support staff well.

Staff benefit from regular meetings and training opportunities that develop their practice. For example, new staff 'buddy up' with more experienced colleagues to see how staff interact and care for children. Staff say they feel valued and enjoy their work.

They are happy, enthusiastic and caring role models for children.Children's behaviour is excellent. The leaders have a clear ambition to teach children to respect others.

Children learn about the rules of the club and why each rule is important. Staff praise children for being kind, sharing and following the rules. This reinforces their good behaviour.

Children of all ages play nicely together and show high levels of respect. For example, young children playing with trains allow others to join them in their game and share their toys, so everyone can play.Staff communicate effectively with parents.

They use newsletters to share activities and daily pick ups and drop offs to discuss children's needs. Parents speak highly about the staff and the care offered to their children. They say that their children enjoy the club and they are well informed about what their child is doing during their time there.

Staff help children to learn about healthy lifestyles. They provide healthy foods for breakfast and snack times and talk to children about good food choices. Staff ask children what foods they would like to eat while in the club and create new menus to include the foods they enjoy.

They use these opportunities to teach children about food allergies, cultural differences and what makes a healthy meal.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders place a high priority on children's safety.

They complete robust recruitment and vetting procedures to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Staff receive annual safeguarding training and leaders use monthly staff meetings to refresh and deepen this knowledge. Staff and leaders know the signs and symptoms of abuse.

They know the correct procedures to follow in the event of a concern about children's welfare. Leaders ensure all staff have up to date knowledge of children's medical and dietary needs. They provide suitable alternatives at mealtimes for children with allergies to keep them safe.

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