Stockport Lads Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy and excited in equal measure during their time at the club.

Older children welcome the opportunity to act as a good role models. They buddy up with younger children on the walk from school to the club. Younger children learn about road awareness, which helps keep them safe.

Once in the club, children explore books, create models from blocks or simply relax and chat with their friends. At snack time, children choose from a range of healthy food, including fresh fruit and vegetables. Children play a variety of sporting games, such as football, tennis or badminton, which develops their spatial awareness and... stamina.

They also enjoy improving their hand to eye coordination as they play pool, table-football and table-tennis. Children learn archery skills, in which they are quite proficient. Older children demonstrate correct technique to those younger than them and give encouragement and praise.

Younger children show great resilience when learning this new skill.Children benefit from the extensive outdoor space. They talk about how they watch the family of foxes each morning come out of their den across the field.

Children plant a variety of fruit and vegetables and tend to their growth. Once harvested the crop is used in the club snacks. These unique experiences help build on children's knowledge of nature.

Children have close bonds with the staff team and know that they can speak to a trusted adult. Staff are in-tune with children's emotions, which ensures that children are, and feel, safe at the club.

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

Club leaders have worked hard to ensure that children have access to a well-resourced range of activities, both indoors and out.

To achieve this, they seek the views of children, parents and staff to provide an environment that children continue to find appealing. This exemplifies the club leader's willingness to gain feedback to continually improve what they offer.Staff meet children's care needs well.

For example, on hot days they ensure children have sun lotion on, have immediate access to drinking water, and spend time in the shade. Staff also take the time to speak to children, to find out about their day at school and how they are feeling.There are strong links to children's learning from school as the club employs staff that work with children in school on a daily basis.

This support is particularly effective for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. As a result, all children's learning is well complemented. Staff know which children to give even greater support to regarding their social skills.

This support is proven to be effective. The youngest children are confident and independent and able to express their views. Additionally, these children have been well supported to verbalise their feelings and emotions.

Children are safe and happy at the club. They talk about how they like coming to the club to play with their friends. They say they 'like the healthy food' and 'love all the games'.

Children talk about how the staff team are caring. Children are consistently well behaved. They are polite to their friends and the staff team.

On the rare occasion that staff need to intervene, they gently help children understand how their actions have made others feel.Parental feedback is very positive. They comment that the staff team are 'really approachable and always friendly'.

They say that their children 'cannot wait for when they next attend' and that 'the understanding for their children is overwhelming'. They explain that they know their children are 'safe and well cared for' when at the club.Staff say that they enjoy working at the club and comment on the positive team culture.

They receive regular supervision meetings from leaders. These focus on the quality of their practice and any training needs. Staff talk specifically about how leaders are considerate of their home life and are supportive of their well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders provide staff with access training, which ensures their secure knowledge and understanding of safeguarding. This means that they are alert to a wide range of indicators of potential abuse.

Staff know what to do if they are concerned about a child and where to report any concerns. In the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff, leaders are clear on the procedures to follow and the appropriate agencies to contact. Additionally, staff know who to contact should leaders not act to safeguard children.

Leader's recruitment and vetting of staff is rigorous, with safer recruitment procedures being followed. The premises are secure, and the indoor and outdoor environment is regularly risk assessed. Staff supervise children closely when walking them from the nearby school to the club.

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