YMCA Childcare - John Hunt

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are excited to attend the out-of-school club after their school day. They eagerly come into the club and demonstrate they feel safe and secure as they put their belongings away, go to the toilet and wash their hands.

Children greet the staff with smiles and affection and quickly initiate conversations with staff about their day at school. Staff act as positive role models for the children, attentively listening to their stories and encouraging them to take turns in speaking.Children's personal development is supported well by staff.

Children form good relationships with staff and have strong friendships with their... peers. Older children are kind and caring to the younger children in the group, they help children with their pen lids, to find their bags and act as helpers at snack times. All children's behaviour is exceptional and they have a very good attitude to learning.

They engage well and are busy and occupied throughout the session. Children are involved in decision making about the activities offered and provided with choices throughout the session. For example, children are given a choice about what they would like to eat for tea from a range of healthy options.

Children's physical development is promoted well as they play outside in the fresh air. They love playing energetic team games facilitated by staff, for example the pirate game, where children enthusiastically shout out 'pirates ready' and then in teams try to gather as much 'treasure' as possible.

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

The senior management team are new to post.

They are enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated to making a difference to the children and families that use their services. They work closely with the staff and constantly review and evaluate their practice, to make changes that benefit the children, families and staff. They have an improvement plan and have already identified the need to strengthen the key-person approach and explore further ways to engage parents, prior to their child starting at the after-school club.

Children know and anticipate the daily routines, such as hand washing on entry to the club and before eating snack. This helps them learn what they can do to help prevent the spread of illness and infection.Staff's genuine interest in children is evident.

All staff members know the children well and children benefit from the strong bonds they have established with staff. They talk about their families, school life, likes and dislikes. This helps children develop a sense of belonging and feel valued while at the setting.

The staff team are dedicated to their roles. They work hard to support children's learning and development. They plan activities that help to develop the skills needed for school.

For example, staff set a challenge for children to work in teams and create a boat that will float, using the resources on offer. Children use their critical thinking skills to problem solve, make decisions, and show resilience as their boat sinks. The confident communicators show themselves in a leadership role, leading their peers through the challenge and triumphs of boat making.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The club has thorough safeguarding policies and procedures in place that help staff to safeguard the children that attend. Robust recruitment procedures and annual self-declarations from staff ensure that staff that work for the club are suitable to do so.

Staff undertake safeguarding training, including the wider aspects, such as the 'Prevent' duty and female genital mutilation. They are familiar with the procedures to follow should they have concerns about children in their care. Staff supervise children well and enable them to play in a safe and secure environment.

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