The Childcare Club At Thomas A Becket Middle School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children feel safe and secure at the out-of-school provision.

They are warmly greeted by staff and the children are very eager to share stories with them about their school day. Children settle very quickly and seek out friends to play with. They are affectionate towards the staff and refer to them as 'being kind and funny'.

Children's behaviour is very good. They have good manners and look after the toys and resources. They know the club rules very well.

They discuss the importance of being kind to others and always being respectful. Children then demonstrate this understanding as they invite others to play table... tennis and look at football cards together. Children benefit from a wide range of stimulating activities.

For example, children develop their physical skills. They have opportunities to play outside and manipulate clay into models of animals. Children enjoy organising and playing games, such as bingo in small groups.

They squeal with excitement when the numbers are called out towards the end of the game.Children demonstrate pride in their achievements. They are keen to show what they have been making with small construction bricks or drawing a butterfly.

Children beam as they ask the inspector 'Do you like my one? I did this on my own.'

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

The staff develop positive partnerships with teachers from the school the club operates from. For example, when children are handed over at the end of the day, staff use the opportunity to exchange any important information about a child's day in school.

The club supports children's behaviour very effectively. For example, the children discuss the club rules at every registration. They know that they must listen when an adult is talking, let others join in play, and how to respond if they hear the fire alarm.

Children know how to keep themselves and others safe.Children are very well supported in their independence. For example, children are competent in making their own healthy snack as they arrive.

They tidy away when they have finished. Children clear away resources when getting ready to go outside. They wipe down the tables and enquire of the staff if there is 'anything you would like me to do?' The manager has a positive attitude to improving the provision.

For example, she encourages the children to give suggestions for future activities, such as baking cakes to sell for a charity event. Parents are given questionnaires in order to evaluate the club and the manager uses this information to make positive changes. Staff say they are extremely well supported by the dedicated manager.

Children have an awareness of each other's cultures and traditions. For example, they celebrate festivals, such as Eid, and enjoy tasting food from other cultures. This helps them to understand the similarities and differences between themselves and others.

There are robust procedures in place to ensure that children are kept safe at the club. For example, all staff have undergone a stringent recruitment process to ensure that they are safe to be in the presence of children. There are effective actions to take if a child does not attend the club and staff have a system to ensure that children are collected by a named adult.

The staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) very well. They use a range of strategies to implement a programme, so that children with SEND are included in activities. Staff ensure detailed information is gathered from families and the school before children start.

Consequently, children with SEND thrive and enjoy their time at the club.Parents highly value the club. They write about the daily communication that they receive about their child.

Parents mention that the staff are approachable and friendly and that their children thoroughly enjoy their time at the club. They commend the manager for going 'above and beyond' to ensure that their children have a memorable and happy time.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The staff understand their child protection responsibilities. They undertake training to help to ensure that their safeguarding knowledge is secure. For example, the staff are able to describe signs and symptoms of abuse, including those of radical and extreme views or behaviours, and female genital mutilation.

They are familiar with local safeguarding partnership procedures should they have a concern about children's welfare. The staff ensure that they talk to the children about keeping themselves safe when they are at the club. The outside and inside premises are checked daily and any identified hazards are removed.

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