Smartkidz @ Cherry Hinton

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enjoy attending this after-school club. They are keen to communicate with staff and their friends and talk openly about their day, as they sit and enjoy a healthy snack together. This contributes to children having a sense of belonging and builds strong relationships between both staff and their peers.

Staff know the children extremely well. The environment reflects children's interests and needs. Children demonstrate confidence in selecting resources to play with and are encouraged to share their ideas about plans for future activities and experiences.

Children show an interest in making paper aeroplanes and staf...f participate enthusiastically, commenting on the success of each child's design. While in the outdoor area, children develop their physical skills as they climb trees and explore woodlands. Staff support children in managing their own risk.

Children show sustained levels of focus as they take part in the activities on offer. Staff strive to follow the lead of the children and ensure that they enjoy their time at the club. Children are respectful and polite.

They talk openly about the fun they have at the club, recalling Easter egg hunts and playing with play dough. Staff are excellent role models. Children demonstrate impeccable behaviour as a result of securely embedded routines and consistent expectations.

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

The manager and the staffing team have a clear vision and ethos for the care they provide at the club. They focus on providing a play-based environment, where staff follow the interests of the children in their care. As a result, all children feel valued as individuals and freely share their ideas and opinions.

Staff create a calm and welcoming atmosphere, where children feel safe and secure. Younger children benefit from a dedicated key person to help them settle quickly and engage with the activities on offer. Staff gather information about children's likes, dislikes and developmental stage.

Subsequently, children quickly form strong attachment with all staff at the club.Children's healthy lifestyles are promoted well. They learn about the importance of good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands before eating.

Children are provided with healthy meals and develop their independence by making their own sandwiches and serving their own drinks. Staff have a good understanding of all children's dietary requirements and make adaptation in the provision to ensure children remain safe during mealtimes.Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well.

They are knowledgeable about the different interventions that are needed to support individual children in their play. Staff work closely with parents and the host school to provide continuous care for all children. Teaching staff speak highly of the club and comment on the excellent communication between the school and the staff.

Staff ensure that the premises are safe, secure and suitable for children. Managers regularly assess the layout of the provision and provide additional staff to ensure children are appropriately supervised as they move around the site. Staff deploy themselves well to ensure all children benefit from their positive interactions.

Parents report positively about the way staff support their children at the club. They feel well informed through both newsletters and conversations during pick up time, which builds their trust in staff. Parents comment that their children are 'well cared for' and thoroughly enjoy their time at the club.

Leadership and management at the club are strong. Staff have supervision and appraisal meetings regularly to discuss their knowledge and identify training opportunities to further develop their practice. The management team have effective and robust procedures in place for the recruitment and vetting of staff.

Staff state that they feel extremely well supported and comment that management go above and beyond to provide continued professional development opportunities.

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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