St Mary’s Thornbury Out Of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children develop excellent relationships with each other and staff. They are extremely happy and settled and learn to respect each other highly. For instance, children played carefully around an elaborate 'dinosaur land' created with wooden construction tracks.

Children learn to be very independent. They make their own choices from the resources and activities that staff provide to stimulate children and engage their current interests. Children of differing ages play very harmoniously together.

For instance, younger children dress up as a 'princess', and older children help to find them a piece of material to use as a cape... or a robe and pretend to be 'ladies in waiting'. Children show an excellent understanding of how to manage risks. For example, they know to handle scissors and knives safely as they prepare their own snack.

Children eagerly play outside, where they safely challenge their physical skills and develop excellent balance and coordination using a wide variety of equipment. Staff help children develop an excellent understanding of the world they live in. For instance, children make intricate, colourful bracelets in string as they learn about a Hindu festival.

Staff support children's keen interest in a national wild bird project by providing lard, seed and materials to design and create bird feeders.

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

The owner is ambitious to ensure that every aspect of the club is of high quality and benefits children. She and her staff have very good partnerships with parents and the host school.

The enthusiastic staff, many of whom also work at the school, exchange information about children's achievements and school day, which helps ensure consistency. Staff prioritise children's safety and provide a very welcoming environment that helps children to feel secure.Staff promote children's emotional well-being very effectively and take time to get to know each child.

For instance, they offer a drop-in session and settling-in visits before children start to attend the club. Staff find out about children's needs and interests at home as part of the induction process. All children have a designated key person who supports their individual needs.

Additionally, younger children are allocated an older 'buddy' to help them settle in. Staff are very competent at supporting children, particularly the youngest. They are proactive in identifying additional support for children when needed.

Staff treat children with kindness and respect and are excellent role models. Children behave very well. They understand the rules and expectations of the club, which are clearly displayed.

Staff use a range of strategies to help children take responsibility for their own behaviour. For instance, children can be rewarded with a marker on a display when they demonstrate a kind act or good behaviour. Once they reach 10 marks, they earn a reward.

Children enthusiastically explain how this works, and parents state that they appreciate how staff use this to promote positive behaviour.Children develop an excellent understanding of how to take care of their bodies. For example, they know that they need to drink water after they have been running outdoors.

Children learn about good hygiene practices and healthy lifestyles through efficiently organised routines. For instance, they choose and help prepare their own nutritious snacks, and clear and wash up their own dishes.Children learn to take responsibility for their own belongings and to share tasks during routines throughout the session.

They hang their coats and bags up when they arrive, register their attendance and willingly help staff set up and clear away games and resources.The management team reviews the quality of the provision well. It involves staff, children and parents in the process.

The team continues to explore other ways to build on the already excellent quality of care. For instance, staff recognise children's changing interests and plan to provide even more opportunities for children to explore and use technology.The owner understands the need to regularly evaluate the supervision and professional development of staff.

This includes opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills through training to keep improving the provision for children. Staff say that they are exceptionally well supported by the management team.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The owner uses robust procedures to ensure the suitability of staff working with children. All staff have first-aid and safeguarding training to support children's welfare and well-being. Staff keep children safe on the premises.

They assess risks and record the information, which is checked at regular intervals. Staff have an excellent understanding of what to do in the event of child protection concerns. They complete a wide range of in-house and external training to continually update their knowledge and skills to the highest standard.

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