The Den

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements The over-subscribed club is extremely popular with parents and children. Staff provide a wonderfully welcoming and inclusive provision which is wheelchair accessible. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the club.

They settle quickly and are eager to join in with their friends. Parents are complimentary about the care provided by the staff. They report that they can go to work knowing their children are 'happy and well looked after'.

Staff are kind and are excellent role models. They interact well with children and take a genuine interest in what they say and do. Children play with a vast array of interesting toys and r...esources, both indoors and outside.

Their behaviour is exemplary and they care about each other. Children share and take turns and are respectful of each other's differences. Older children are mindful of the needs of the younger children.

They have a can-do attitude, which is demonstrated when they keep trying to master their skills of bobbing for apples, during a Halloween activity. Children make their own rules, such as no running inside, which helps keep them safe in the club.

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

Staff know the children very well.

Their close relationships foster children's confidence and well-being. Staff gather useful information about children's likes, dislikes and interests before they start. This helps them offer a tailored approach to meet children's individual needs.

Staff use their knowledge of what children like and can do to plan interesting activities that keep them engaged. For example, the inspection took place at Halloween, and children enjoyed drawing faces on pumpkins and scooping out seeds in preparation for cutting faces into lanterns. They also learned about size and weight and talked about pumpkins being smaller, larger and heavier.

Staff help children to understand about the wider world. For example, at the time of the inspection the Rugby World Cup was being played in Japan. This was an excellent opportunity for children to learn about different countries, modes of travel and inclement weather.

Children's health and well-being are positively supported. Children enjoy being active in the large enclosed outside area. They develop their physical skills.

For example, they climb on the structure, play ball games and take part in parachute activities with staff. Children also benefit from the expertise of a football coach, who helps them to develop their skills further. Children are encouraged to drink water to keep them hydrated.

The managers have an accurate overview of what works well and areas they need to improve. They continue to seek advice and support from local organisations to help keep staff up to date with current practice issues.The managers are dedicated and committed to provide an excellent service for families and children.

They regularly evaluate the way they work and strive for continuous improvements. They meet with staff and seek the views of parents, to help them gain ideas and suggestions to analyse areas of improvement. As a result, the setting has extended the opening hours further, to cater for the needs of working parents.

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children show a good understanding of the rules and boundaries. For example, they take turns on age-appropriate video games, play cooperatively and share toys.

Staff have strong links with the school where children attend. They gather and share information about children to make sure their individual needs are met.Staff actively welcome and include all children and meet the needs of those with special educational needs and/or disabilities very well.

Children have lots of opportunities to learn about their similarities and differences.Children develop critical thinking skills and show high levels of perseverance. For example, younger children make a train track and successfully work out that they need a curved piece to make a circular track.

Staff provide praise and encouragement and only intervene when their help is needed.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff attend training in child protection to keep their knowledge and understanding up to date.

Staff are aware of the signs that may alert them to concerns about a child's welfare and know the procedures to follow to keep children safe. The premises are secure and only known adults collect children. Staff have effective risk assessments and are vigilant in their supervision of the children, to ensure they are kept safe.

Also at this postcode