St Joseph’s After School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children show that they enjoy attending the club. They know the routines for meeting in the playground at the end of the school day.

Children listen for their names when the register is called and line up, ready to walk across to the club building. Children are eager to talk to staff about their day. When they arrive at the club, children know to wash their hands before sitting together for a snack.

Lively conversations take place as they eat together, and older children help their younger friends by passing the spread and fillings for their sandwiches. Children are confident to choose what they want to do at the club. Sta...ff provide a wide range of activities, some of which are linked to a theme.

For example, at present children are thinking about Chinese New Year and take part in art and craft activities to add to a display of this celebration. Children benefit from the positive involvement of the staff in their activities. For example, staff support children who are keen to make a card for their parents, helping them with the writing inside.

Staff speak to children about what they are doing, and extend their interest and vocabulary. For example, children make models with clay and talk about the clay drying hard in the air. They go on to say that some clay needs to go in an oven to go hard and the staff tell them they are correct, and the oven is called a 'kiln'.

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

The manager works very well with the staff. Together they communicate effectively to ensure that messages are passed on, and children's needs are met. The chairperson of the committee is fully involved with the club and has regular meetings with the manager.

This ensures the committee are up to date with what is going on in the club.Staff at the club work closely with the linked school. Effective communication and sharing of relevant information ensures that children are kept safe and children with additional or specific needs receive a consistent approach to their care.

Relationships are very positive at the club. Children get on well with one another. They are involved in planning activities and in setting the expectations for behaviour.

Older children are kind to the younger children as they encourage them to practise their writing. They give lots of praise to their younger friends, which boosts their confidence and self-esteem.Behaviour at the club is good.

Children work very well together as they play games, such as table football and pool. They laugh with each other and share resources very well. Children are confident to approach staff for assistance if they need it and initiate conversations about their day, their family and what they are doing.

The positive and friendly atmosphere at the club promotes children's feelings of well-being and belonging.Staff encourage children to be independent. Children choose what food they would like for their snack and help themselves to fruit during the session.

Children know to hang their coats and bags up when they arrive at the club, and they are confident to select games and resources from the storage units and help tidy away when they have finished with them. Staff help children learn about keeping themselves safe online. Discussions take place, and displays of information are available for children.

The same information is shared with parents, so they can discuss online safety with their children at home.Children take part in activities that help them learn about the wider world and diversity. With support from staff, children find out about a variety of celebrations and different cultures.

Children enjoy looking at maps, globes and posters showing the flags of different countries around the world.Parents are happy with their and their children's experiences at the club. They comment that the staff get to know their children very well, and their children choose to attend the club because they find it so enjoyable.

Parents like the daily feedback and information the staff share about the activities and state how effective the staff are at passing on messages from the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Thorough procedures are in place to ensure staff are suitable at the point of employment.

Staff are required to make regular declarations that nothing has changed that could affect their ongoing suitability. Staff speak confidently about their responsibility for keeping children safe and protecting their welfare. They complete regular training to ensure their knowledge of safeguarding issues and that the procedures for recording and reporting concerns remain up to date.

Staff are vigilant in their supervision of children. Thorough risk assessments are in place that contribute to children being safe. Suitable steps are taken to reduce hazards to children on the premises.