The Strings Club - Harborne Holiday Camp (Harborne Academy)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are happy and keen to be involved in the music sessions and the play activities that staff provide. Staff create a very welcoming environment and children who are attending for the first time settle very quickly and join in.

On arrival, children choose activities that have been set out by staff. Once all children who are expected have arrived, they sit together in a large circle for a 'getting to know you' session and this leads into the first music lesson of the day. Young children are assigned an older 'buddy' who helps them to understand if they are unsure about what the music teacher is asking them to do.

Chil...dren behave well and play cooperatively. Staff acknowledge positive behaviour with praise and this helps to boost children's self-confidence and self-esteem. A key-person system operates and staff offer support throughout the day, in accordance with the different abilities of the younger and older children.

The relationships between staff and children are good. Children are physically active outdoors every day. Staff support children in making healthy choices about food and drinks.

Children play with resources that help them to practise their handling skills.

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

The club supports children in practising the skills they are learning in school while also providing music tuition. All children are provided with a ukulele.

Some have never played a musical instrument before and a group session begins with practising the 'ready position', the 'resting position' and learning about the four strings. Children use good handling skills to play each string in turn when the music teacher asks them to 'flick the flea off each string'. Children explore and learn the names of each part of their ukulele.

Staff are alert to the quieter, less-confident children in the group and ensure that they receive the attention that they need.Younger children's needs are met well in small-group activities while music tuition for older children continues. During the first of these activities, the children are fully engaged as they join in when their key person sings and encourages them to join in with actions to the songs.

Staff encourage children to tap out different rhythms when they change the tempo while singing.Children are aware of the rules for lining up before they move to different areas within the school building and outside. The music theme continues throughout the day and children happily join in with a lining-up song.

Mealtimes are social occasions where children hold conversations with staff and the children that they are getting to know. Staff are fully aware of children's different dietary needs and ensure that they do not eat any food that would do them harm. Parents are informed that packed food must not include nuts and they are given information on foods that include nuts.

Staff ensure that children do not share food.Activities help children to improve their handling skills in different ways. They practise pencil control while drawing and they use scissors during creative play.

Children take part in activities that link to a holiday theme. They look forward to what they would pack and then draw pictures of their choices within an outline of a suitcase.Children communicate confidently and are fully engaged in their small group during a story time.

The key person shows them the covers of two books and points to the print as she reads the titles. Children decide which story they would like to be read. They respond confidently when questions about the story are asked, and they happily talk about what they think will happen next.

All children play together outdoors. They socialise while getting involved in activities, including ball games and a parachute game, and they learn to skip with ropes.Records, policies and procedures that are required for the safe and efficient management of the provision and to ensure that the needs of all children are met are well maintained and implemented.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The provider ensures that staff complete training to keep their child protection knowledge up to date. Staff are aware of the signs of abuse and neglect and know the internal and the local referral procedures to follow if they have a concern.

Staff make sure that the premises are secure so that children cannot leave unsupervised and unwanted visitors cannot gain access. Staff identify and successfully minimise potential risks, both indoors and outdoors. The provider ensures staff's suitability through thorough recruitment and selection procedures.

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