Ultimate Activity Camps At Godstowe School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are settled and comfortable in this welcoming camp.

Staff are exceptionally caring and genuinely enjoy interacting and having fun with the children. Children are highly valued. Rewarding strategies such as encouraging children to give themselves a 'high five,' help children to become confident and resilient individuals.

Children's physical development and well-being are well supported. Staff provide plenty of opportunities for children to exercise on a daily basis. For example, children warm up and stretch out, before they negotiate hitting the balls back and forth with age-appropriate racquets, and practise their... physical skills.

Children enjoy running freely on the soft outdoor play surface and exploring the outdoor equipment, such as the climbing frame and slide. Children are curious and engaged learners. For example, they enjoyed searching the school grounds on their nature trail, using magnifying glasses to explore their findings further.

Children's individual needs are carefully considered and met effectively. Staff follow each child's interests and engage well with the children in their play. For example, they play alongside children as they enjoy pushing cars and trains or building a tower with blocks.

Children behave well. Overall, children benefit from a range of well-planned stimulating activities. They enjoy their time, looking at books and getting messy with the art and craft activities on offer.

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

Leaders and managers make effective changes and adapt the provision, due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. They have worked hard to adapt their provision to re-open to provide parents, children, and staff, a safe place for children to attend during the school holidays. Parents make positive comments and children tell the inspector how much they love to attend the camp.

Staff promote good behaviour and encourage children to be respectful towards one another. They are effective role models and have high expectations of children. Children are reminded of the rules of the camp.

For example, at the start of the camp, staff recap the rules and discuss the use of 'kind hands, kind feet and kind words to our friends'. This helps children to know and remember what is expected of them.Leaders, managers, and staff reflect on the provision to identify and build on good practice.

They actively seek the views of parents and children, then use the resulting information to plan improvements. For example, changes have been made to parking and the 'meet and greet' location, acting on views shared by parents at previous camps. Self-evaluation leads to a well-targeted action plan for improvements.

Professional development is strong. Staff are encouraged to further their own qualifications and careers. They speak very highly of the support that they receive from leaders and managers and of the comprehensive induction and training they receive.

Leaders and managers implement systems to ensure that staff's well-being is consistently supported. For example, all staff talk to the inspector of the camp's nomination of staff recognition reward. This means that staff feel valued and enjoy their roles.

Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of how children learn through play. Children are included in planning and evaluating all activities. As a result, children are motivated and enthusiastic.

Overall, children remain occupied in their chosen activities throughout the session. However, during some large group sessions, there is scope to further improve this so that all children are fully engaged and do not tire and lose interest.The atmosphere in the camp is positive and children respond well to familiar routines, games, and activities.

For example, children sit in a circle and enjoy playing 'duck, duck, goose' in the large playground area, tapping their friends on their shoulders. Children who are new to the club receive effective support from their key person. This helps children to form friendships and feel happy and secure.

Staff encourage conversation about the benefits of healthy food on children's bodies, and children understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. For example, staff remind children of the importance of rehydrating after undertaking physical exercise and how fruits, such as bananas, provide them with energy.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders, managers, and all staff have a good understanding of their role to keep children safe. They are aware of the possible indicators that could suggest a child is at risk of harm and know the correct procedure to follow if they have any concerns. They have a good understanding of wider safeguarding matters, such as the 'Prevent' duty guidance.

The leadership team implements robust recruitment and vetting procedures. This helps to ensure that staff are suitable to work with the children. A thorough induction process ensures that new staff are aware of their role within the camp.

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