YMCA Childcare - St Teresas

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children chat happily with staff as they collect them from school and walk them to the club. They appear relaxed as they engage with each other and staff, showing they have developed trusting relationships.

Children quickly choose what they would like to do first from the wide range of activities. When staff take the register, children sit quietly as staff ask them each, in turn, to tell everyone about a favourite place they have visited. Children are confident to talk about the different places they have been, as staff listen carefully to what they have to say.

Staff give younger children extra time to think about how the...y want to respond and ask them questions to encourage them. Children engage in a range of creative activities, including building with construction toys. Some children sit and concentrate as they carefully copy illustrations from a book, while others colour in pictures and chat with staff about what they have been doing during the day.

Staff engage children's interests as they introduce card games about racing cars. Other children use their imaginations as they make up a game using dinosaur figures with their friends.

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

The manager has a clear vision for children, and she wants them to enjoy their time at the club while learning something new.

She aims to provide children with a wide range of activities to broaden their experiences and develop their interests.Staff provide a range of games, crafts and activities based on what children say they like to do. The manager brings in staff with additional skills to support children and to extend the range of activities available in response to children's interests, such as playing different sports and chess.

Children can see what activities are planned for the week as staff put up a timetable of activities on the club notice board.The staff know the children well. Each child has a named member of staff as their key person, who gets to know their care needs and develops a close relationship with them and their parents.

Staff work closely with the host school to ensure that relevant information is shared, so that they can meet children's individual needs.Staff talk with children about the club's values, including caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. They award wristbands and certificates to children when they work hard to put these values into practice.

Consequently, children learn to behave well. They talk politely with the adults around them and demonstrate kindness to one another.Children learn to be independent.

They clear the table and collect plates and cups after their snack. Staff encourage younger children to do things for themselves. For example, they encourage them to have a go at peeling their own fruit before offering to help them.

Children have lots of opportunities to be physically active, both indoors and outside. They shoot basketball hoops, play football, dance and play on outdoor equipment, such as the climbing wall. Staff closely supervise children to keep them safe.

Inside, staff encourage children to play a jumping game. Children laugh as they try to remember which way to jump as staff call out instructions.Staff encourage children to celebrate what makes them unique and to value each other's differences.

They listen to children as they share their experiences and help them understand the importance of showing respect to others. Staff organise celebrations to mark festivals from different traditions, such as Diwali and Chinese New Year.The manager considers ways to improve the club.

For example, she recognises children who cannot yet read struggle to understand the activities timetable. The manager plans to add pictures of activities, so they can understand what activities are on offer.Parents say their children like attending the club.

They comment that staff are supportive, friendly, and flexible. Children state they enjoy the activities, especially colouring, playing outside, and getting to know children of different ages from school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The manager and staff know the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. They understand what to do if they are worried about a child's well-being. Staff keep their knowledge up to date by attending regular safeguarding training and managers lead discussions about emerging concerns in staff meetings.

Staff are aware of the importance of internet safety and talk to children about how to keep themselves safe online. Managers have undertaken safer recruitment training and implemented robust recruitment arrangements to ensure that staff are appropriate to work with children. Staff regularly check the premises for potential hazards and update risk assessments to keep children safe.

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