Abacus After School Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children arrive extremely confidently and engage well with familiar staff. Transitions between their classrooms and the breakfast and after-school provision is smooth. They know the environment well and are quick to settle.

Children chat enthusiastically with each other, talking about their day and upcoming plans. Staff have high behaviour expectations of all children. Children are polite and well mannered.

Staff have established strong routines, and children follow the rules and staff instructions very well. They interact well with their peers and manage minor conflict independently. Children play cooperatively, share and... take turns with no prompting.

Children behave extremely well.All children remain actively engaged and on task throughout their time at the club. Children benefit from using the school's outdoor places.

Children enjoy the quiet areas where they can read or socialise in small groups. They participate in team sports, for example playing football. Children show a 'can-do' attitude.

They persist in learning racquet sports such as tennis, and their confidence grows as they learn and practise their skills. Staff know the children well and plan activities that develop children's interests. These activities enable children to practise and develop their physical skills and communicate effectively.

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

Staff know how to positively promote children's social skills. Staff set out small group activities for children. They are encouraged to play games, such as chess and table football.

Younger children communicate well with the older children and learn to develop their critical thinking. As children talk to each other, conversations flow. These social interactions are essential for their overall development and help children build important relationships.

Children's health and hygiene is well supported. Children follow meaningful routines that promote their health and hygiene effectively. For example, children wash their hands before snack time.

Staff are well informed about children's allergies and specific dietary needs. They talk to the children about alternative options. Staff promote healthy eating by providing children with a varied menu with healthy snacks.

Children develop a good understanding of healthy lifestyles.Children speak positively about the breakfast and after-school club. They say they enjoy spending time with their friends and like the activities on offer.

They particularly enjoy the arts and crafts activities. They proudly take their crafts home to share with parents. Children enjoy expressing themselves through art.

Older children are good role models for the younger children. They help them to tidy up and put things away in the correct place. Children are accepting of their younger peers who want to join their play.

When children ride on scooters outside, older children wear their helmets. They gently remind younger children to wear their helmets too and help place them on their heads correctly. Staff praise these interactions.

Parents appreciate the care provided by the staff at the breakfast and after-school club. They say their children are keen to attend and ask to be picked up later rather than earlier. Children tell their parents they want to stay longer and engage in activities.

Children enjoy the food at the after-school club.Children are given ample opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children decorate seasonal Easter eggs and bunnies with crafts and glue.

They use chalk to draw around their peers and adults, mark making on the human bodies they draw. Children use paint brushes and buckets of water to make marks on the chalk boards, walls and floor. These activities strengthen children's fine motor skills in preparation for future writing.

Leaders and new managers have a clear understanding of the strengths and areas of development of the breakfast and after-school club. Managers are capturing children's feedback and opinions. They are developing the outdoor provision to allow children to bring some of the activities they enjoy inside to outside.

Leaders and managers evaluate the provision on offer regularly.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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