St John’s After School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children enter this inclusive after-school club happily and confidently.

Staff greet each child individually and warmly by name. They collect the youngest children from the onsite school. Young children know routines well.

For example, they carefully place their coats, bags and water bottles in the right places for safekeeping. Children approach staff to register their attendance and talk about their day. They are eager to look around to see what activities and toys are set out for them and excitedly say, 'I want to do that.'

The play areas inside and out are well resourced and inviting. Staff explain the options... for play clearly to allow children to follow their current preferences and interests. Children quickly become involved and concentrate on what they are doing for long periods of time.

Children show great enjoyment of the sociable snack time, when they chat with their friends and staff. They make choices from a selection of fruit and about the toppings for their whole-wheat toast. Children say that staff ask them what they like to have for snacks and provide lots of variety.

Children willingly help to tidy up afterwards. Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff have high expectations of children.

They consult regularly with children about the guidelines set for their safety and well-being. Older children show great care and empathy for their younger friends.

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

Staff ensure children have plenty of opportunities to play vigorously outdoors in the fresh air, to support their health.

They practise physical skills, for example, while playing football and tennis with staff. Children enjoy exercise during indoor activities in the large hall, including playing parachute games. Children create junk models.

Staff encourage children to use their imagination and talk about what they are doing.There is a frequent and effective exchange of information with the onsite school. Before young children first attend, staff gather information from parents about their likes, dislikes and abilities.

Staff regularly communicate with parents to keep them fully informed about children's experiences. Parents feedback that their children are very keen to attend the club and do not want to leave at the end of sessions.Younger children receive strong support from staff, appropriate for their age.

Their key person gets to know them extremely well and provides activities designed to help them settle in. For example, the youngest children join together for snack time until they are ready to join the larger group. Staff sit close by young children in a cosy area to read them a book of their choosing.

Children are engaged because staff are animated as they tell the story.Staff encourage children to make friends and help each other. One example of this is when they join in with role play while young children play together to dress, feed and soothe baby dolls.

Children cooperate well together in their play. They are polite towards each other, saying please and thank you.Children show appreciation for the wide range of fun activities that staff plan for them, including crafts.

They delight in making bird feeders using pine cones, fat, fruits and nuts. Staff encourage children to talk about birds and how to feed them when they take their creations home. They provide reference books for children to find out more about nature if they choose.

Children explore colour mixing when they add paint to a salad spinner and print onto circles of paper.Staff interactions with children are consistently positive. They celebrate children's achievements, such as being kind to others, for example, when they hold the doors open on their way to the club.

Children collect colourful pom-poms as rewards and plan their own 'pom-pom parties'. These fun events are based around children's interests, such as football, dance or preparing special snacks. This helps them to feel that their views and opinions are valued.

Leaders are passionate about providing a nurturing environment for children at the club. They support the well-qualified and experienced staff to deliver this, for instance by giving them regular supervision and feedback, including at staff meetings and appraisals. Leaders and staff constantly reflect on how to improve their club even further.

For example, they adapt the planning of activities to meet new children's needs and the changing interests of those already attending.

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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