Thurgoland Out Of School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy every moment in this well-organised and homely club. They look forward to coming and parents comment that their children are often reluctant to leave when they come to collect them. Children learn to confidently make decisions about the toys, stimulating games and creative activities they choose to play with.

Staff help them to persist with tasks, to take turns and play fairly together. For example, children choose to develop their own hiding and catching games with large, colourful parachutes. They work very well together to prepare them and fold and tidy them afterwards.

Children are very well b...ehaved and treat the staff and each other with courtesy. They are polite and friendly when they are collected from the school and happily share information about their day with the friendly staff. Staff are very positive role models, who fully involve children in planning activities and creating rules and routines.

Children are safe and secure. For example, staff help them to learn to cross the road carefully together and increasingly challenge themselves on the wide range of climbing frames, slides and other exciting physical resources. Parents particularly appreciate the warm relationship that staff build with their children and the good quality of regular information they share.

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

Staff know children very well. They liaise effectively with children's teachers and parents in order to support them effectively. Staff support children to behave well and have high expectations for good manners and courtesy.

They are sensitive to children's feelings and needs. Staff spend time talking to children and supporting them to find solutions to any experiences that they find difficult.Staff plan very well-considered activities that help them to develop their imaginations and support a wide range of skills.

For example, children enjoy learning to mix delicate colours to paint shells or create model crabs and mermaids from pegs and paper cups for their summer beach theme. Staff nurture and support children very well as they discuss their ideas and help them with their cutting and painting skills.Staff create a warm and nurturing environment.

Young children play happily with older ones and feel valued and supported. Staff discuss children's interests with parents when they first start. They make sure that there are toys available that will engage children.

Staff make a strong contribution to children's health and well-being. They help children to understand the importance of good hygiene, such as washing their hands regularly. Staff involve children in planning a wide range of healthy snacks, baking activities and encouraging them to try new foods.

Children enjoy very many opportunities to be physically active indoors and outside. Specific projects, such as a topic about the body, help children to find out more about themselves.The club is very inclusive.

Staff are flexible and responsive to parents and children's individual needs. They work closely with teachers and parents to match care closely to children's needs, including those who are vulnerable and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.The manager is very experienced and eager to ensure that the club consistently meets the needs of children and their families.

She regularly reviews the quality of the club through, for example, discussions with staff, children, parents and the schools that children attend. Through 'you said, we did' information displays, staff show how they reflect all suggestions in their future planning. Currently, the club is working towards further expanding their services further to fully meet the local needs.

Parents very strongly recommend the club. They feel confident leaving their children in staff's care and know that they will enjoy themselves. Parents welcome the guidance and very strong support the experienced staff offer them.

They feel that the club is very much at the heart of the village community.

Safeguarding

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