The Dassett Care Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children show a real sense of belonging in this familiar environment and have close relationships with staff. Staff escort children from their classrooms to ensure they arrive safely. Children are eager to talk about their day at school and enjoy socialising with their friends.

Children have the freedom to choose the activities and the room is set with their interests in mind. For example, children show high levels of engagement while they construct a run for their marbles. Staff support children well to share and solve problems as they make their creations.

Children easily follow instructions and play card, and board game...s independently, and with staff. Arts and crafts activities are very popular with children. For example, children freely use these materials to create at their own leisure.

In addition, they easily follow instruction while they make items, such as fridge magnets and beach huts, from lolly sticks. Staff follow the children's lead. For example, the play dough is a firm favourite and children enjoy competing when they make their pretend food items.

Children thoroughly enjoy being outdoors and being physical with their friends while they play chasing games. This relaxed environment, where they decide how to spend their time, complements their day at school well.

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

The experienced owner, who is also the manager, works extremely closely with the small staff team to ensure the smooth running of the club.

She works alongside the staff team daily and has a good overview of the care provided. The manager observes staff daily and provides good support, guidance and coaching to continually extend their knowledge and skills.Staff consult with children daily about their interests and preferences, and diligently make these resources and activities available for them.

This results in children thoroughly enjoying their time at the club. The club operates from the nursery classroom in the host school. Children have use of the rich range of resources available.

Strong partnerships with the staff at the on-site school is key to the success of the club. Staff share detailed information about children and their families, with the staff at the school, to help to support children's emotional well-being. Staff from the club have agreed with school staff that the children have access to the school hall while attending club during colder months.

The club is very well established in the local community and the staff team know children and their families extremely well. Parents report their families have also used the club and they are extremely happy with the service provided. Staff give parents daily feedback about their child's day, and their views are collated, and acted upon regularly through questionnaires and daily discussion.

Children behave well and staff encourage them to think about the needs of others. Children are confident to ask for what they want. They learn to respect one another, and staff challenge any negative stereotypes.

For example, staff remind children that boys and girls can play with all the resources available. However, staff provide children with fewer opportunities to understand about disability and their cultural differences.Staff place a high priority on promoting children's health.

For example, children kept a weekly diary of the foods they ate to help them understand the importance of eating a healthy diet. Staff encourage children to make healthy choices and talk about the importance of limiting high sugar foods in their diet. In addition, staff talk to children about the importance of good oral hygiene and children know milk is good for their teeth and bones.

Children have plenty of opportunity to be outdoors in the fresh air. They use a challenging range of physical equipment to help test and extend their physical skills.Teaching children to keep safe is a clear priority.

For example, staff talk to children about online safety and playing age-appropriate video games. They teach children about respecting their own and other's bodies and personal space. Children learn about how to keep safe when using the school field and staying safe around dogs.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There are effective systems in place to ensure all staff are suitably vetted, and their ongoing suitability assessed. Staff have a secure knowledge of signs of abuse and the procedure to follow if they have a concern.

The manager works closely with the school staff to identify any children at risk or in need of early help and support. The premises are clean and safe, there are effective risk assessments in place to remove and minimise any risks identified. There are clear procedures followed to ensure staff safely escort children to and from the club.

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