YMCA Whittingham ASC, BC, and Holiday Playscheme

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements The manager and staff form strong partnerships with parents and with teachers at the school where the club is situated.

They exchange relevant information about children and work together effectively to support their welfare needs. Staff are highly attentive to children and cater for their individual characteristics and preferences. This helps children feel happy and safe at the club.

Staff involve children in decision-making about the club and plan activities based on their interests. There is a good range of games and activities which children freely choose from and enjoy. Although at the start of the afternoon sessions,... children sometimes become bored because there is not enough for them to do.

Children are motivated and concentrate well on activities. They enjoy looking at books and building with construction sets. Staff provide art and craft resources for children, however they do not always encourage them to use their own ideas to design and create.

Children's behaviour and attitudes are good. They are imaginative and lively as they make up their own games indoors and outdoors. Children form secure relationships with the caring staff and develop good friendship with other children, which helps them to feel confident and secure.

They spoke positively about coming to the club and told the inspector that the staff look after them and are there to help them.

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

The atmosphere in the club is positive. Children demonstrate that they feel comfortable and secure as they confidently chat to staff and make choices from the toys and resources.

Children who are new to the club receive effective support from their key person. This helps them to form friendships and feel happy and secure.The manager seeks parents' and children's views to help her evaluate the provision.

She makes effective plans to enhance children's experiences at the club. For example, in response to children's requests, staff now provide a wider range of fruit at mealtimes and have bought torches for outdoor games on dark evenings.Staff observe children and listen to their views about the activities and resources they prefer.

They encourage children to make independent choices about their play and support them to make up their own games. However, staff do not always encourage children to be creative and use their own ideas during art and craft activities.Routines are generally well organised to meet children's needs.

For example, children can choose if they wish to play outside or relax quietly indoors. However, at the start of the club session, there is a long period when children are kept waiting with nothing to do. At this time, children become bored and their enjoyment is reduced.

Children are provided with nutritious meals everyday and staff ensure that they meet the needs of children who have specific dietary requirements. Children enjoy being active and get plenty of exercise outdoors each day in the large playground. Staff are vigilant and remind children about rules, such as staying within the allocated area and using climbing equipment safely.

This helps to keep children safe and healthy.The manager and staff are qualified and experienced, and form a strong and dedicated team. They benefit from a good programme of training opportunities provided by the company, to help them strengthen their professional skills.

The manager is well supported in her role by senior company staff. Club staff have regular team meetings and individual supervisions where they are able to discuss key issues.Parents speak very highly of the club.

They comment that their children love going to the club and the staff are 'like family' to their children. Parents say that attending the club has also helped their children to feel more confident at school and to form good friendships with others.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Managers and staff have a good understanding of child protection and know how to keep children safe and well. They access regular training to keep their knowledge up to date and ensure they are familiar with a wide range of safeguarding issues. This includes understanding how to recognise if children are at risk from radicalisation.

Staff know about possible signs and symptoms of abuse to children and what to do if they are concerned about a child's welfare. There are clear procedures in place to manage any allegations that may be made against a member of staff. Staff use ongoing risk assessments effectively to ensure the environment indoors and outdoors is safe and secure for children.

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