Step By Step

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements The after-school programme offers a wide range of interesting and stimulating play experiences for children.

The established key-person system enables children to be warmly welcomed and skilfully settled. Children arrive with enthusiasm and are effectively included in all activities. Staff promote children's emotional needs extremely well; children are very secure as a result.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are extremely well supported. Staff provide activities which engage and motivate the children. They spend considerable time getting to know children and their families and are sensitive and ...responsive to their individual needs.

Support for children's play, development and learning is exceptional in a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Children of different ages enjoy one another's company and solid friendships are formed. Children are developing their confidence and self-esteem extremely well.

Staff are positive role models who are calm and gently spoken. They smile and enjoy themselves as they work with the children and there is a good sense of fun within the setting. As a result, children behave and play very well together.

Well-established partnerships with parents and the schools that children attend enhance the quality of care for children. Staff demonstrate excellent capacity for continuous improvement, with young carers and volunteers often progressing to employment as staff and completing additional qualifications.

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

The staff work exceptionally well together as a team.

They are clear about their roles and responsibilities. Staff understand and are committed to their roles as key persons and know the children well. They liaise closely with parents, school teachers and any other agencies involved in children's well-being.

This supports the consistency of care and sharing of information about children's interests and specific care needs effectively.Parents receive detailed information about the service through regular newsletters, the website and daily conversation. They comment that they feel well informed about their children's development and appreciate the friendly rapport that staff establish with families.

Parents are well aware of the enjoyment their children experience through the wide range of stimulating activities and experiences made available in the setting.Leaders and managers are highly effective in their approach, with support provided for staff which includes careful reflection on practice and clear communication of expectations. The managers pay attention to the contributions of staff and parents.

In addition, children's comments are valued to identify the setting's strengths and what areas staff can improve on and develop.Staff encourage children to join in with sociable group games. Children choose the group they want to be in by using a visual poster.

This involves them in listening to directions as they sing and play while learning to interact considerately with each other.Children enjoy their time at the setting and have fun in the company of staff and children of different ages. They demonstrate consideration for others; older children have a positive impact upon the care of younger children.

They happily include each other in their play and conversation.Good personal hygiene practice is promoted so that children know to wash their hands before they eat, and personal care needs are sensitively considered. Children are closely and carefully supervised by staff.

Children and adults sit together in a sociable group as they enjoy nutritious food offered for snacks, including a range of fruit and vegetables. A choice of drinks is readily available throughout each session so that children do not become thirsty. Children enjoy sessions involving cooking and tasting different foods.

Staff support children exceptionally well, teaching them to play safely as they participate in physical activities. Staff benefit from good induction procedures that include undertaking training relevant to their roles and responsibilities. The procedures for keeping children safe within the setting are shared with all staff regularly.

Staff are excellent role models and establish clear boundaries and expectations for acceptable behaviour. Children behave well because they are interested and engaged throughout the sessions. They are willing to help and take turns, showing good manners.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff ensure that children's safety is given priority. They carry out ongoing risk assessments to help reduce any hazards.

Staff regularly practise fire drills so that children know how to respond in an emergency. The premises are safe and secure. Staff complete regular and appropriate safeguarding training.

They are clear about the procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child's welfare. Robust vetting procedures ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Staff deploy themselves effectively to supervise children during their play and to provide them with the support they need.

Security arrangements on the premises are strong and staff reduce hazards for children through detailed daily premises checks and outing risk assessments. Policies and procedures are available to parents and carers at all times, and managers review these regularly. Other documentation, including for children's individual needs and healthcare, is consistently completed and updated.