The Gap Club, After School Club @ St Jude’s CofE Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children demonstrate that they feel happy, safe, and secure in the inclusive club. They are friendly and confidently talk to visitors about the activities they enjoy and people who are familiar to them.

For instance, they talk about their wider families and identify which members are the eldest and which are the youngest. Children behave well and understand the routines and rules of the club. For instance, on arrival they hang up their bags and coats and wash their hands before entering the room.

During group sessions they discuss behaviour expectations, such as not digging holes in the garden. Children recognise that this... is not permitted as the younger children may fall in these and harm themselves. Staff act as good role models and set clear boundaries for children's behaviour and conduct.

They use effective strategies to promote positive behaviour, such as reward charts and certificates. On the rare occasion that children's conduct is not acceptable, staff gently remind them of the behaviours that are not permitted. Children respond swiftly to these interventions and respectfully follow instructions from staff.

Children enjoy the time they spend outdoors and benefit from an abundance of fresh air and exercise. They eagerly explore their surroundings, for example, finding insects in the garden. They look at these through magnifying glasses and comment to adults that this makes things look bigger.

Children confidently name a range of insects that they find, such as centipedes, ants and snails.

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

The dedicated and passionate club manager and staff provide a vast range of activities that retain children's interests and engage them. Children enthusiastically enter the club and quickly become engrossed in activities, including, arts and crafts, drawing, role play and outdoor play.

Leaders and managers are committed to providing high quality, inclusive care for all children and their families. Children demonstrate high levels of emotional well-being and staff encourage them to share their thoughts and express how they are feeling. For instance, they have the opportunity to place a picture of themselves on the 'how I am feeling' board or share any concerns with 'Zippy, the worry monster'.

Overall, staff interact well with the children in their care. They have interesting conversations and listen carefully to what children have to say. For example, they talk about the weather and the importance of wearing a hat and sunscreen and alternating time in the sunshine with time in the shade.

However, during large-group activities, staff do not always encourage quiet and less confident children to engage fully in conversations.Staff have built effective relationships with the school that children attend. They collect children directly from their classrooms and escort them safely to the club.

This enables staff to exchange information with school staff on children's welfare during the day. This helps them to provide continuity in children's care.Children receive encouragement to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Staff provide a good range of healthy snacks and children confidently make their own sandwiches. Children recognise the importance of drinking plenty of water, especially following exercise and when the weather is hot and sunny.Staff encourage children to keep themselves safe.

For example, when children move scissors from one area of the club to another, they are reminded how to hold these correctly. Children walk carefully and ensure that they put the scissors in a safe place.Children are polite and kind and thoughtful to others.

For instance, during group activities they remind each other that they must not make too much noise, as some children find this very overwhelming.Partnerships with parents are good. Parents express how much their children enjoy attending the club and eagerly tell them about the activities they have enjoyed.

Parents speak highly of the staff and appreciate the high-quality care their children receive.Overall, staff supervision is good. Leaders and managers are committed to supporting staff's ongoing professional development.

Staff have regular discussions to enable them to reflect on activities and share information on the individual children's needs. They complete online and face-to-face training to help develop their professional knowledge and skills. However, the provider identified that there is scope to improve staff supervision further, as this has lapsed slightly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The leadership team uses robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suitable to work children. The provider has comprehensive and clear safeguarding policies and procedures in place.

Staff have a secure knowledge of the signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm of abuse and/or neglect. They are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities and know what to do in the event of a concern. Daily safety checks enable staff to quickly and eliminate any potential risks in the environment.