Stortford Kidsout (summercroft)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are very familiar with the routines of the club. They arrive from school and instantly hang their coats and bags up by themselves. They wash their hands ready for tea.

Children behave positively and support one another. They interact with staff and other children happily, and enjoy playing together. For example, the youngest children pretend to be doctors and wrap bandages around staff and older children.

The youngest children confidently inform their 'patients' that they must keep the bandages on until they are better. Older children willingly support the youngest children to complete challenging jigsaw puzzles. ...They work together and celebrate their achievements once the puzzle is complete.

Children readily choose from the range of activities on offer. They share ideas with the staff for activities through regular group discussions. Staff support children to discuss important issues, such as internet safety.

Children willingly share their knowledge and opinions about how to keep safe online. They contribute towards the colourful displays around the club. For instance, children create flowers from paper, using scissors carefully as they cut.

Staff display their creations for them proudly.

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

Staff feel well supported in their roles. The manager holds regular supervision meetings with them to discuss their performance.

Staff attend team meetings to share ideas and discuss the service they provide. Staff complete training so that they can develop their knowledge and practice further. Senior leaders have a clear vision of how they can enhance the service and staff training even further.

Relationships with other professionals, such as school teachers, are strong. Staff hold daily discussions with them when they collect children from school. Teachers inform the staff of what children have done during the day.

Children enthusiastically share their learning with staff. They excitedly talk about a nest that they have been looking at as they walk to the club building. Staff share information with school teachers regarding children's progress.

They plan activities to support children's learning. All of this helps staff to build on children's existing experiences.Parents are very pleased with the care that their children receive.

They feel that staff communicate effectively with them. Staff provide children with settling-in sessions, which helps them to familiarise themselves with the club and settle quickly. The staff collect a range of information about children before they start.

This supports them to provide relevant and interesting resources for the children to choose from.Children are keen to learn about others. They enjoy activities that help them to develop their understanding of other cultures and festivals, such as Chinese New Year.

They persevere as they use chopsticks to eat noodles. Staff encourage children to share their experiences outside of the club. The youngest children enjoy taking home the club teddy bear.

They share pictures of their time with the bear with their friends at the club. Other children look at the photographs with interest and talk freely about their own experiences.Staff support children's emotional well-being successfully.

Staff hold discussions with children about how they feel. They form meaningful relationships with the children. They recognise when children need support, such as when they are in need of comfort.

Children follow the rules of the club well. They sit with staff and write the rules together. This supports children to become respectful and thoughtful towards one another.

Children enjoy being physically active at the club. They play outdoors in the large playground. Staff provide them with lots of equipment for them to explore.

Older children play games inside. They confidently give instructions to one another as they place their hands and feet on different-coloured circles. They laugh with glee as they play.

Younger children develop their smaller muscles. They concentrate and remain engaged as they place small beads on boards carefully.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a strong understanding of how to keep children safe. They implement the club's policies effectively. For instance, staff operate a password system for the collection of children.

Staff complete safeguarding training and the manager ensures that their knowledge is kept up to date. They have a strong knowledge of the process to follow should they have any concerns regarding children's welfare. They can confidently identify possible signs of abuse and neglect, as well as wider safeguarding issues, such as identifying children who may be at risk of exposure to extreme views and behaviour.

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