Toast and Tea, Westgate

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements The children rush out of school eagerly to join the after-school club staff who are waiting for them. Some children even embrace the staff with a kind gesture, for instance a cuddle.

The children follow the rules straight away, putting on their high-visibility tops independently, then forming a line while holding onto the walking rope. They happily chat away to their friends and adults as they walk back to the setting. All the time their behaviour is impeccable, they are very aware of road safety and the dangers that are around them.

The setting is all prepared for the children when they arrive, with a range of exciting ac...tivities that follow the interests and ages of the children. Yet, the children form a line and wait their turn to be called to put away their belongings and wash their hands in readiness for their healthy snack and water. The children have beautiful manners towards each other and the staff.

The children are excited to be at the club, saying they would rather be there than at home watching television. Children are free to choose what they want to participate in, some choosing arts and crafts, others a quiet story and the younger children choosing to make a large train track. The adults are quick to deploy themselves with the children who need support.

There is constant talk coming from the children as they communicate with the other children in their play.

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

The provider has clear aspirations for the club. There is a very welcoming feel for all those that attend with a lovely friendly environment.

The activities that are set up are based on the children's interest or current affairs topics and festivals, such as the World Cup or Christmas. These activities excite and engage the children and extend on their learning well. The staff know the children well and spend time listening and talking to them.

They are consistently meeting their needs.Children confidently access the extensive range of activities. Children of all ages play alongside each other, with older children supporting the younger ones.

Some children choose to do activities independently. The children make good use of their prior knowledge and problem-solving skills, such as when doing word searches and puzzles. They enjoy doing 'funky fingers' activities, such as threading beads onto pipe cleaners, which extends their dexterity and hand-to-eye coordination.

Children show great pride in their achievements. There is a 'shout out' board that children can go on when they do something wonderful. They are very proud of themselves for being on there and parents can see this when they pick their child up.

Staff use this as another opportunity to extend children's learning by getting them to write why they achieved this acknowledgement.The children have options for a quiet cosier area to take themselves to. This area is there to support the children who need one-on-one support or a quieter area to play in with a friend.

It displays support for children's emotional well-being, for instance pictures and the story of 'The Colour Monster', which describes different emotions. Staff have and demonstrate a secure knowledge of how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.The club supplies breakfast, snack and a hot dinner for the children who attend.

They follow a strict 'no nut' policy and have many other allergies that they cater for. All food is prepared on site by a chef who is not included in the ratios of staff. Parents are very happy that children are given dinner, so they can focus on spending time with them when they get home.

The parents are ecstatic with the care and opportunities their children receive at this before- and after-school club. 'It provides a lovely home environment for kids, balancing play with pastoral care and the sense of a large family coming together.' Parents explain their relief to have a setting like this as it allows them to work full time, knowing their child is safe, happy, and playing with their friends.

The staff are supported by their manager and the owner of the club. Their needs are met and supported well, especially when it comes to staff well-being. They hold well-being days that include team exercise sessions, long walks, and pottery painting.

The staff also attend in-house training and are supported to extend their own development. However, they are aware of the need to regularly keep their knowledge up to date with latest trends in their local environment.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff are consistently making sure that the children are safe, especially when walking to and from the local school. They deploy themselves well and are always communicating with each other to keep the children and themselves safe. The staff are always risk assessing the environment, for instance the outdoor facilities had to be closed due to thick mud, frost and it being too dark.

All staff have completed safeguard training and in addition several have done designated safeguarding training or level 2 safeguarding training. They can identify the signs of abuse and neglect as well as those linked to the 'Prevent' duty, such as radicalisation. They use a robust system for reporting any safeguarding concerns.