Whitecrest latchkey club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this out-of-school club. Staff provide a wide range of activities which enable children to relax and have fun with their friends after school.

Children are extremely sociable. Laughter and conversation flows easily between children and staff. Children are very confident to share with staff their learning experiences and knowledge gained at school.

For example, they challenge staff with mathematical questions.Children are familiar with the routines of the club and settle quickly on arrival. They enjoy their snack and relax with colouring activities.

Staff take a keen interest... in children's drawings and ask them to talk about these. Children enjoy the opportunities to practise writing their names and talk about the letters they are familiar with. These experiences help to complement children's learning in school.

Staff recognise children's interests and provide a range of equipment to support this. Children create storylines as they play with toy robots. They concentrate as they investigate the various components of the robot, such as moving levers to operate the arms and legs.

Children behave well and understand staff expectations. Staff provide them with gentle reminders, such as how to sit safely on a chair. Children play together harmoniously.

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

The manager, who is also the provider, reflects well on the quality of the service that they provide and consults with staff, parents and children. For example, she has made effective use of funding to enhance the equipment for children's outdoor play experiences.Children benefit from opportunities to be physically active, such as walking a mile around the school grounds.

They thoroughly enjoy competitive elimination games in the school hall. Staff regularly provide children with outdoor play opportunities. However, they do not make the best use of the outdoor space during all weather, for example, when it is colder than usual.

The manager provides staff with effective guidance, training and coaching to enhance their practice. Staff say how they feel well supported in their roles. New staff receive a comprehensive induction; as a result, they understand fully their role and responsibilities.

Overall, staff support children's health well and follow effective hygiene routines. Children have access to drinks and snacks. However, the manager does not ensure that snack times fully support children to understand making healthy food choices.

Staff value the uniqueness of each child who attends the club. They work very closely with parents to find out about children's interests and achievements at home in order to complement these during children's time spent at the club. For example, children are keen to demonstrate their Banghra dancing.

They confidently teach staff words in their home languages.Staff help children to understand about and celebrate the cultural diversity of the community they live in. They provide children with experiences linked to various festivals.

This includes making Christmas decorations and trying Chinese food as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations.Staff provide children with effective opportunities to be independent. Children access role play costumes and dress themselves without support.

Children thoroughly enjoy the opportunities to use their imagination. They take on various character roles and develop storylines in their play. For example, they pretend a toy ship is sinking because of the weight of the cargo.

Staff enhance children's play well and join in with children's imaginative ideas.Staff enable children to access quieter activities and to practise their reading skills. Children relax and unwind with a book and share these with staff.

Staff encourage children to develop a sense of responsibility. This includes putting resources away when they have finished using them and respecting the equipment they use.Staff are very attentive towards the children and are aware of their changes in feelings.

Staff offer a nurturing relationship and comfort should children need this. They help children to become aware of the needs of others and how they have different opinions. This helps to support children's emotional development.

Parents speak very highly of the service provided. They appreciate the regular updates that staff give them about their children's experiences at the club and the range of activities provided.The manager and staff value the working partnership with the school and frequently exchange information about the children, which benefits their time at the club.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff have a secure knowledge of safeguarding children. They complete regular training to keep their knowledge updated.

They know potential signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of abuse and neglect, and how to report these. The manager and staff understand the process to follow relating to allegations about a colleague. The manager ensures that a thorough risk assessment is completed both indoors and outdoors.

This includes having effective arrangements in place for parents collecting children and communication with the school for the collection of children at the end of the school day. Staff make ongoing assessments to minimise risks to children. The manager completes a thorough vetting process to check on the suitability of staff.

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