Squirrels Dobcross

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children giggle and show excitement as they enter this club. They greet their friends and automatically take their seats for snack time, pointing eagerly at the array of resources already set out for their enjoyment. Children demonstrate impressive behaviour as they speak to staff members with respect and good manners.

For example, they show maturity beyond their years as they say 'excuse me' and wait until other conversations are finished without interrupting. Staff value children and actively seek their opinions. Children appreciate this and show confidence when suggesting changes.

For instance, they ask for the resource...s on the 'art table' to be changed to something they feel they will enjoy more. Staff act upon this feedback immediately and, as a result, children remain engaged and focused in this area for extended periods. The members of the management team are passionate about their roles.

They continuously evaluate and adapt their practice. They review long-standing policies and procedures to incorporate current children's interests. For example, they reconsidered the previous restrictions placed on 'good versus evil' role play.

The managers recognise the constantly evolving nature of early education and ambitiously strive to incorporate this into their everyday practice.

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

Staff form genuine, strong and effective partnerships with parents. Key persons provide daily verbal feedback and incorporate parental feedback into their self-evaluation.

Parents especially appreciate the use of a communication diary which is used to communicate messages between parents, the club and the host school. Parents praise this as 'a particular strength of the club'.The management team and staff risk assess the indoor and outdoor environment effectively each day.

They ensure that equipment, the premises and resources are safe and suitable, which helps to minimise the risk of harm for children. Staff deployment is good and helps to ensure children are kept safe and well. However, although staff do encourage children not to walk around with food in their mouths, occasionally at busier times they do not always notice some of the children who do this.

Staff report that they feel 'very happy', 'well supported', 'respected' and 'heard'. The management team works hard to ensure staff do not experience any undue stress and place a high importance on staff well-being. This means children experience high-quality staff who genuinely enjoy their roles.

Children enjoy opportunities to exercise their independence at this club. They show pride as they take on small responsibilities and roles, particularly during snack time. For example, children hand out plates and cups, pass out fruit to their friends and pour their own drinks, which helps to promote their confidence.

However, while children do wash their hands before handling food, hygiene practice could be strengthened further during snack time, specifically when children hand out their peer's wraps using their bare hands.Children are highly confident. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in this setting as they approach expected visitors with obvious self-assurance.

For example, children offer visitors fruit from the communal fruit bowl and kindly say 'we will share with you too'.Children's physical development is well promoted at this club. They enjoy free access to the outdoor environment and quickly capitalise on this opportunity by organising their own football matches.

During these, children keep score, take turns and follow rules harmoniously together. Meanwhile, other children climb trees and engage in spirited 'pogo stick' bounce competitions. They cheer on their peers and laugh delightedly as they try to break one another's best records.

The management team ensures the club is continuously improving effectively. For instance, managers employ a 'team approach' to self-evaluation, involving staff, parents and children. This means they can accurately identify areas for development, including staff training needs.

As a result, staff practice is consistently evolving. For example, staff recently attended training on 'outdoor learning', in order to support children's physical development further in the winter months.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The managers ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children by following robust vetting procedures. They then continue to monitor ongoing suitability closely. This helps to keep children safe.

Staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. They can confidently identify signs and symptoms which may indicate a child is being abused. They also understand the procedures to follow should they have an allegation against another member of staff or the management team.

The designated safeguarding lead has secure safeguarding knowledge. She ensures she stays abreast of current safeguarding issues, such as the 'Prevent' duty. The designated safeguarding lead then cascades this information directly to parents to help further promote children's safety.

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