Staplehurst Summer Play Scheme

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy and enjoy attending the well-organised summer holiday club. The experienced staff team are sensitive to the needs of each child. They are quick to build relationships with the children, which supports children to feel secure.

Children are confident and behave well. They approach staff to ask them to play table tennis and board games with them. Children who are new to the holiday club are carefully supported.

Staff intervene if children are not engaged and encourage team games. This helps children form friendships quickly, and they enjoy time with their new friends.During the day, staff plan breaks for th...e children to come together and socialise as a group.

Children bring in healthy food to eat. Snack time is full of conversation with children laughing and telling jokes. They share what they have been doing and tell their friends about the delicious fruit kebabs they have made.

Staff use this opportunity to discuss what is happening next. Children excitedly make plans before tidying up after themselves. There are always exciting outdoor activities offered, for example archery and multi-sports.

Children spend time outside each day and enjoy plenty of fresh air and exercise.

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

The holiday club offers children a large variety of fun activities. This includes a planned focus each day.

For example, children can take part in a water and bubble day and go on bouncy castles. Children say that they enjoy the animal experience that visits each year. Children have fun and look forward to attending each day.

Staff ensure that there is a well-balanced mixture of adult- and child-led activities. They carefully plan to encourage children to play independently and make choices. Some children work on creating their own life size paper person while others collaborate on decorating material to use for a den.

Children love taking part in the daily craft activities. They are proud to take their creations home to share with their families.Staff constantly interact with the children and ask them what they would like to do.

For example, children ask for the craft materials to remain out so that they can finish their artwork the next day. Children are confident to talk to staff and share their views.Children are friendly and their behaviour is really good.

Staff remind them of the rules and apply them consistently. Children walk independently from the main hall to the field while a member of staff watches. Staff intervene swiftly to resolve arguments.

For example, during a football match, the teams are uneven, so a member of staff joins in to help avoid a dispute.Staff take time to get to know children before the summer holiday scheme opens. They organise an open day in which families and children can visit the school site.

Children benefit from meeting the staff team before they start and are confident to attend on their first day.Staff work in partnership with parents so that children with additional needs are well supported. Parents visit the holiday club and discuss their children's specific needs.

For example, staff make sure that the room and activities are set out carefully to make sure that all children can access them. This helps all children benefit from the extensive activities that are on offer.Parents feedback about the professional and friendly nature of the holiday club.

Children look forward to the days that they attend and ask their parents to book them in for more sessions. They like that there is a core team who work throughout so that there is always a person that they know and can speak to. This provides consistency of care for the children.

Leaders use their extensive knowledge of working with children to ensure that they are safe. All staff take part in a robust induction process. This includes mandatory training on safeguarding.

The manager conducts a thorough risk assessment before opening and throughout the day.

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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