The Lime Trees at Butler’s Hill Infant and Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements The manager and staff team ensure that the club is well organised and inviting. They collect children from their classrooms within the host school and nearby junior school. Staff greet them with warmth and excitement and promote mutual respect and kindness.

Children arrive happy and enthusiastic to participate in the activities that staff plan for them. Children enjoy established routines that allow them to independently make decisions about where they would like to play and when they have their snacks. For example, children are able to access play activities, both inside and outside, due to the layout of the room.

Childre...n enjoy quieter activities, such as playing with toy dinosaurs and playing chess and board games, as well as physical activities, such as football and cricket. They become deeply engaged and spend considerable time at their chosen activities, playing harmoniously together. Children of all ages are well behaved and considerate of each other.

Children speak to new adults with confidence and are keen to explain why they enjoy attending the club and their favourite activities. Staff develop close relationships with the children and play alongside them.

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

Staff ensure that routines are consistently adhered to so that they are well known to the children.

This helps to provide a sense of safety and security for the children. Children know the rules of the club, such as looking after resources, and are able to remind each other. They follow instructions well and help to tidy up toys and games they have been playing with.

Children understand hygiene routines. For example, they know to wash their hands before lunch.Staff work closely with the children's teachers from the schools.

This supports them to know the children well. They ensure that each child has a key person to support the youngest children to settle and thrive. Staff are very knowledgeable about the children attending and meet their needs effectively.

They plan a programme of activities for the children, which is closely based on what the children like to do.Staff carefully plan the environment to meet the needs of all children. For example, staff set up areas for different types of play.

They create areas for children to be imaginative, such as with dolls in a pretend home. Children benefit from quiet areas where they can relax and read a book or use construction toys to create their own models. Staff plan craft activities to support children's understanding of different artists, such as recreating the sunflowers painted by Vincent Van Gogh.

They provide children with real sunflowers to feel and look at as they paint. However, occasionally, staff do not consider how they can support children to make decisions for themselves and follow their own creative ideas as they explore a range of materials and craft resources.Staff encourage children to develop healthy lifestyles.

They provide healthy food choices at snack time and talk to children about a balanced diet and different food groups. Staff encourage children to be active. Children run, play football and practise shooting balls through hoops.

Older children play alongside younger children, teaching them new skills such as dribbling footballs.Parents are very positive about the club and the staff. They value the friendliness and communication they receive from staff.

They say they know that their children are safe, are being well cared for and having fun.The owner and leadership team take the well-being and development of staff very seriously. They have face-to-face meetings with staff and provide training to support their practice.

This helps to keep staff up to date with new ideas and practices. For example, staff have received training to enable them to support children to learn how to manage their own behaviour and understand their feelings and emotions.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The manager and staff carefully check who they are collecting from the host school and linked junior school at the start of each session. They understand their role and responsibility to keep children safe and are familiar with the signs and symptoms that may indicate abuse. Staff are clear about the reporting procedures should they have concerns about a child's welfare.

Recruitment processes are robust. For instance, leaders check that staff are suitable to work with children and conduct regular checks to verify their ongoing suitability. The manager and staff carry out daily risk assessments, inside and outside, to minimise any potential hazards in the environment.

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