The Play Professionals at Woodmansterne

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children quickly settle in this vibrant, stimulating and safe out-of-school club. Staff keenly greet children when they first arrive to promote their sense of belonging and emotional security.

Children seek out their friends and eagerly find stimulating activities that engage them for long periods. For example, they explore a selection of natural objects and show a sense of satisfaction and pride as they make intricate patterns with pine cones, leaves and wood. Younger children use their imaginations and act out their experiences, such as when they dress and tuck dolls into bed.

Children's behaviour is excellent. They list...en to staff and keenly follow instructions. During circle time, all children are given the opportunity to recap the club rules and consider how they can further promote fundamental British values.

For instance, they talk about respecting one another, valuing each other's views and ideas, and sharing toys. Children's physical exercise is promoted extremely well. Outdoors, younger children laugh and giggle as they zoom around a racetrack on tricycles, tandem bicycles, and balance skilfully on stomper stilts.

Older children use a large outdoor space to play football and confidently ride scooters and bicycles. This also serves to promote the younger children's safety and well-being from the more energetic and active sport games.

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

Self-evaluation is a high priority.

Leaders frequently monitor the quality of staff performance and the environment to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Following parents' comments and surveys, a receptionist now greets parents at the school reception area. Staff successfully seek and value the views of children to show them they matter, which further strengthens their self-esteem.

Children are involved in the planning of activities, and given many choices during their play.The manager is extremely dedicated and shares her ambitious vision among all staff. The strong and consistent staff team works tirelessly together to ensure they reliably and securely provide high-quality out-of-school care for all children.

Staff's views and ideas are welcomed and valued, such as during staff meetings and annual staff surveys. Leaders act with integrity to promote staff well-being.Staff receive highly effective continuous professional development opportunities.

They access numerous training opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills to an even higher level. Following recent training, the manager says she has further strengthened her early years foundation stage knowledge and skills.Partnership work with parents, teaching staff and the headteacher at the host school is outstanding.

Staff work extremely successfully with teaching staff to support a continuous approach to childcare. Daily conversations and weekly meetings with them ensure the needs of all children are met for a seamless approach in children's care, safety and well-being. The manager swiftly identifies children who may not be achieving as well as they can.

She gives parents ideas and suggestions to try at home, and signposts them to external agencies for additional help and support.Parents and the headteacher say they could not be happier with the care and ongoing support all children receive. Parents say 'they would not change a thing'.

For example, children thoroughly enjoyed cooking pizza and noodles to celebrate Chinese New Year, and mastered riding a two-wheeled bicycle at the club, and learned how to play chess.Children enjoy their time at the club. They consistently show high levels of involvement and have lots of fun.

For example, children keenly create models from a range of modelling clay. They enthusiastically show staff the models they have made. They relish the praise from staff, which further promotes their sense of achievement.

Staff interact with children skilfully and join them in their play. For instance, staff enthusiastically join children as they play dodgeball and football. Staff quickly recognise, when very young children become tired.

They sit with them in a cosy book area to have a rest before they go home.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff demonstrate excellent knowledge of their safeguarding responsibilities.

They regularly attend safeguarding training. This helps them to identify, understand and respond to signs of possible abuse and neglect. Staff understand that their role is to protect children from extreme views and beliefs.

They have a shared understanding and commitment to keep children safe. Staff confidently explain the local procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's safety. The premises are secure, and staff carry out daily checks of all areas to ensure they remain safe for children.