The Alpha Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive confidently at the club and show that they are happy and content. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in their surroundings as they quickly put their things on a table and go off to explore the activities around the room. Staff sit at the tables with them and ensure children are happy and safe as they talk to them about their day and encourage them to share their own thoughts and feelings.

Children form good relationships with adults who have high expectations of them, which means they behave well. They respond positively to adults and enjoy spending time with them. They follow familiar routines, such as... stopping what they are doing when an adult claps their hands and indicates it is time to do the register.

Children enjoy exploring the indoor and outdoor areas. They develop their physical skills outside by playing football and exploring a den-making area. Children are encouraged to explore and learn about the world around them.

For example, a small group of children were engrossed in finding snails and making a habitat for them, while adults carefully discussed their choices with them. Children say they enjoy attending the club and that the staff are helpful. They like the food provided by the club and enjoy reading stories with adults.

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

Staff put children first, and they act as positive role models and are caring and kind towards them. They get to know the children well and make necessary adjustments to such things as staffing and the environment in order to support individual children's needs and well-being. They give children a voice by asking them what they would like to do each week.

They use table discussions to find out about children's interests and use this information to plan future activities. This helps children feel valued and raises their self-esteem. Staff also consider the different areas of learning and provide a variety of activities to support them, tailoring provision to the different ages of children attending the club.

Staff support children's personal development well by talking about the club rules, which link to modern British values. They develop children's awareness of how to keep themselves safe by reminding them to do such things as walking inside and holding a knife safely while they chop up vegetables for snack time. Children develop good hygiene habits and independently remember to use hand sanitiser when they arrive and before eating.

Parents say that their children are well cared for and supervised at the club and that their children are always happy to attend. They feel that the staff are approachable, communicate with them well and pass on information from school. They also feel that the club is good at meeting children's individual needs.

Leaders have a vision for the club. They value their staff and spend time with them, monitoring and supporting staff with their training needs. They are committed to ensuring that their staff have the knowledge and skills they need to do their job well by offering them such things as apprenticeships and online learning.

They also have regular reviews and meetings to address any individual needs. Staff say they feel well supported and can ask leaders for help if they need it.Staff provide children with lots of resources that help them build on the skills they learn at school.

For example, they develop their social, creative and literacy skills as they sit happily chatting to each other while they make cards and write messages in them for their teachers. They play independently and enthusiastically in the busy environment. However, some children would benefit from some quieter areas to relax and rest in if they need to.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Since the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have completed yearly online training and kept their knowledge of safeguarding and child protection issues up to date. Staff know the signs and symptoms of abuse and who to go to should they have concerns about a child's welfare.

There are recruitment procedures in place to ensure that all adults are suitable to work with children. They make daily checks of the indoor and outdoor environments to check that the areas and equipment are safe for the children to use. Termly fire drills mean that all staff and children understand and know what to do in the event of a fire.

Also at this postcode