The Play Professionals at St Leonard’s

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Since registration, leaders have a shared vision for providing a high-quality breakfast and after-school club. Children are emotionally secure and feel safe.

They thoroughly enjoy their time at the club and have lots of fun in a welcoming environment. They engage in many activities which they enthusiastically choose for themselves. Mixed ages of children enjoy their time together.

They keenly share toys and behave exceptionally well. Younger children giggle as they enthusiastically shake cultural instruments together and older children concentrate as they draw detailed pictures. Older children show care and consideration f...or younger children and happily share and involve others in their games.

Older children told the inspector they really like looking after the younger children. Staff promote all children's confidence and independence consistently and highly effectively . For example, children relish the sense of responsibility as they lay tables and serve food for each other at teatime.

Staff praise children for their help, to further promote their self-esteem and sense of belonging. The manager and staff are highly attentive to meeting children's needs. They have excellent knowledge of their key children and plan activities based on what they like to do and by following the school curriculum.

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

Children's keenness and enjoyment show that the wide range of resources, activities and arts and crafts are carefully planned to meet all of their needs. For instance, children keenly make firework pictures with glitter and stars.Children build positive relationships with all staff members.

Interactions between them are superb. Staff successfully encourage children's speech by creating opportunities for them to share their ideas and stories with one another. Staff sit with children at every opportunity to engage them in conversation and in play.

Children's good health is promoted well. Children are physically active. They have plenty of time outdoors and ample fresh air.

Children enthusiastically use outdoor apparatus with confidence. They carefully balance, climb and excitedly slide down the large slide with ease and control.Children benefit from a variety of nutritional hot and cold meals every day.

They have plenty to eat and drink, and enjoy this social time together. Some children skilfully make sandwiches and dip wraps and cucumber into humus. Other children devour hot soup and spaghetti hoops.

One child says to the inspector, 'There is just so much to eat'.The manager understands the importance of working in partnership with parents and staff from the host school. Regular meetings with the leadership team and teaching staff ensure there is a successful and consistent approach to children's care and learning.

Parents comment they are very happy with the service. They say children have lots of fun. Their views and comments are valued by the manager and staff.

Following parent feedback, the manager has purchased additional cooking equipment, to cook even more warm, nutritional meals for children.Staff are excellent role models. They promote positive behaviour and are respectful of one another and very caring towards all children.

Staff work very well together as a team with a common purpose and they communicate well together. They report that they are supported well by the manager and leaders.The club promotes British values very well.

During circle time, children enthusiastically remember these values, for example showing respect for one another and following the club rules. Children celebrate staff and children's home experiences that are different from their own. For example, during Black History Month, children enjoyed Jamaican bulla bread.

On request from children, bulla bread has become a regular feature on the weekly menu. Children's views are welcomed and valued.Staff are qualified and experienced.

They access training to keep their mandatory training up to date, although training to develop their play work skills and knowledge has yet to be identified.Successful self-evaluation ensures leaders evaluate staff performance, safety and the play environment, to further help maintain the high quality and standards of this out-of-school club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of their safeguarding responsibilities. They regularly attend safeguarding training to develop their sound knowledge. This helps them identify, understand and respond to signs of possible abuse and neglect.

Staff understand their role in protecting children from extreme views and beliefs. They have a shared commitment to keep children safe. Staff clearly explain who they would go to if they had any concerns, including the designated safeguarding lead at the host school.

This ensures that they have a consistent approach. Staff confidently explain the local procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's safety. The premises are secure and daily checks of the environment ensure it remains safe for children to use.

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