The Lime Trees at Richard Bonington Primary and Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Staff greet children kindly as they collect them from their classrooms.

They encourage children to become independent in their self-care as they ask them to hang up their coats and school bags. The manager and staff team ensure that the club is well organised and inviting. They plan exciting activities that children happily and independently choose from as they arrive from school.

Staff talk to children thoughtfully and with warmth, promoting mutual respect and kindness. They support children to quickly settle at this friendly club and help them to form positive friendships. Children thoroughly enjoy playing games with the...ir friends.

For example, they talk to each other and share resources as they play in the cosy role-play tent.Children are friendly and sociable towards each other and enjoy being independent and helpful. Staff give children responsibilities such as reading part of the story at story time.

Children independently serve their own snack and put their plates in the sink to be washed when they have finished eating. Staff use resources imaginatively to stimulate children's interest. For example, children learn to use knives safely.

Staff put real apples and pears with chopping boards and safety knives, to encourage children to practise using their fine motor skills as they cut them up.

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

The staff team are clear about what they intend children to learn at the club. They set up areas for different types of play.

They create areas for children to be imaginative, such as making pictures with a similar style to an artist they have been talking about. Children benefit from quiet areas, where they can relax and read a book or use construction toys to create their own models.Staff promote children's behaviour with a range of strategies, such as giving the children clear instructions.

Children enjoy playing in mixed-age groups and younger children benefit from the help older children offer them. For example, older children help the younger children to find words in word searches. Staff praise the care shown by the older children towards the younger ones as they play cooperatively with each other.

However, staff do not always explain the reasons for the club rules, to support children's understanding and enable them to manage their own behaviour.Children are provided with a range of healthy and nutritious snacks to choose from. Snack time is a social occasion as children sit and talk with their friends and staff about their school day.

They develop good table manners and understanding of hygiene as they independently wash their hands.The manager and staff at the club have developed effective communication systems with the host school. Many members of staff also work at the host school, which aids their understanding of what children are currently learning at school.

Staff plan activities at the club to support children to consolidate their learning at school. For example, staff read stories to increase children's love of literature. They use the stories children are familiar with, such as 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' to develop children's story telling skills.

Staff ensure any messages from school are passed on to parents when children are collected to go home.Staff communicate well with parents. They gather information from parents about their children.

For example, they find out about likes and dislikes, family members and any medical needs to ensure children are fully supported. Parents speak extremely positively about the club and the staff. They appreciate the opportunities for their children to socialise and enjoy activities with their friends.

Parents comment their children are always happy to attend the club and find the staff approachable and helpful. They say that children talk about what they have done at the club and enjoy the activities that staff provide.Leaders provide staff with high levels of support.

They have a high regard for maintaining a happy and well-trained staff. Staff feel valued by leaders and enjoy their work. All staff complete mandatory training, including safeguarding and first aid as well as food hygiene and training about children's food allergies.

Regular supervisions and appraisals enable further training opportunities to be identified and accessed.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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