Abacus After School Club Mead

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children are warmly greeted by staff as they come into the club. Staff listen intently as children share details about their school day. Children arrive with enthusiasm and know the club routine well.

They sit in a group to welcome one another while the register is completed. Children clearly enjoy the company of the staff, who make sure every child is occupied and happy. The staff set out a varied range of activities that reflect children's interests and abilities.

Staff embrace children's ideas when planning activities and children know where to find additional resources to extend or vary their play.Children say that the...y enjoy coming to the before- and after-school club. They like the staff and the varied play experiences that staff plan.

Parents are happy with the care their children receive at the club. One commented that her child's confidence and social skills have improved since attending. Staff encourage children's positive attitudes well.

They praise and support children, enhancing their self-esteem and confidence. Children behave well. They respond immediately when staff ask them to sit for teatime.

They wait patiently for their friends, saving them seats at the table. Children talk about the food they like. This encourages their understanding of making healthy choices.

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

Children have positive attitudes and show high levels of curiosity, concentration and enjoyment. Children are confident and eager to have a go and persist at their chosen activities. For example, children make paper aeroplanes and test how far they can fly.

They share tips with their peers and the adults. Staff praise the children's achievements. Staff are good role models, they and the children use good manners.

Children of all ages play well together.Staff ensure that children experience a healthy lifestyle while at the club. They provide a variety of fruits and vegetables at mealtimes and have drinks readily available to help children stay hydrated.

Staff ensure that they meet children's dietary needs, allergies and intolerances effectively and are trained to administer medication appropriately. Children enjoy being physically active in the vast outdoor space. They enjoy rolling on the grass and practising their ball skills.

Staff recognise and celebrate the diversity of children and families at the club. They make sure to incorporate experiences that help all children understand about the religions, traditions and events that are meaningful to their friends. They are fully dedicated to ensuring that the club is inclusive for everyone.

Staff help children to express their feelings and name their emotions. They support children's growing emotional regulation by showing empathy and validating their feelings.In general, staff encourage children to do things by themselves.

For example, with supervision they encourage children to go to the toilet and wash their hands. However, there are occasions when staff do not extend children's growing independence. For example, they serve the children meals and pour drinks for them without first encouraging them to have a go themselves.

The management team are experienced and committed to providing quality care. They actively seek feedback from children and parents to inform future developments. Staff state that they feel very supported through inductions, peer-on-peer observations, meetings and supervisions.

There is a strong understanding of the importance of continued professional development. All staff are committed to create positive experiences for all children.The management team have effective risk assessments in place to ensure that all activities are as safe as possible and that all areas used are suitable for children.

Revised and robust procedures are in place for adults collecting children from the school. This helps to ensure children's safety. Good recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that all staff working with children are suitable to do so.

Staff have good relationships with teachers at the on-site school. They use beneficial two-way communication to safeguard children's welfare and meet their individual needs. The staff establish good partnerships with parents.

Staff make use of handover times to exchange information with parents about their children's day.

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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