Zeals Afterschool Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive happy to attend the after-school club. They are greeted by caring and friendly staff, who the children have built close relationships with. Children contribute their ideas for activities and have been involved in setting up the club, when they moved into the current building earlier in the year.

Children are involved in deciding how they use the different areas, which helps them to feel secure and gives them a strong sense of belonging and ownership.Children organise games themselves and play cooperatively, sharing resources and taking turns. This helps to support their physical development, widens their friendship ...groups, and builds on their social skills successfully.

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They teach the children to recognise the feelings of others and children are seen being kind and respectful.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the setting remained open for children of parents who were key workers.

They maintained good communication with all families during this time through email correspondence and social media.

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

Children have regular opportunities to be physically active and benefit from fresh air and exercise. They play with bats and balls, developing good hand-to-eye coordination skills.

They excitedly chase pop-up tents across the field and hide inside them with their friends.Children of different ages play well together. They are motivated and keen to learn new skills.

Children use a range of resources to make Easter crafts. They use their imagination well and chat with staff as they make pictures and cards from shapes, which they stick with glue. Younger children invite staff to play as they build garages from construction and play with small-wheeled vehicles.

Staff encourage children to take responsibility for their belongings, asking them to hang up their coats and put their bags in the box when they arrive at the club. Children develop good independence skills and show a clear understanding of the rules. For example, they know to ask staff when they want to leave the room to go to the toilet.

They follow good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands before having a snack.Children share their news with staff as they talk about having an Easter Egg hunt. They share warm, close relationships with staff, which helps them to feel emotionally secure.

Partnerships with parents are good. Parents comment that their children enjoy attending the club and they always feel welcomed and involved. Staff ensure that they have good communication with parents and let them know what their children have been doing.

The manager said that she regularly reflects on her practice and the provision, involving the staff and encouraging them to share their ideas. The staff team meet regularly and discuss ideas and talk about how things are going and if there is anything that can be improved. The manager said they ask the children what they would like and include this in the provision, if appropriate and possible.

For example, the manager sourced a fish tank and fish, which the children had requested. The children had fun naming the different fish, which are now a regular focus for conversation.Children's behaviour is good.

They listen to staff and respond to their requests, showing respect for the adults and one another.There are thorough vetting and recruitment procedures in place to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff have opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge to further support children's experiences at the club.

Staff have established secure partnerships with the schools, where children who access the after-school club attend. Staff at both settings exchange information to ensure children continue to feel safe, secure and happy.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The manager and staff have a good understanding of child protection issues and their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. They can identify the signs or symptoms which may indicate a child is at risk of harm and know the correct reporting procedure to follow. Staff remain vigilant at all times and supervise children appropriately.

They complete risk assessments and minimise hazards to ensure that children can play safely. The manager checks staff's ongoing suitability, and most staff are first-aid trained. This helps them to respond to accidents swiftly.

Also at this postcode