Alma Park Kids Club

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children show high levels of emotional well-being at this excellent after-school club. They display strong engagement and enjoyment in a range of fun and stimulating activities.

For instance, younger children enjoy making fruit kebabs for their snack and are skilfully supported to discuss the different fruits, flavours and textures. They also display excellent focus and interest when listening to 'Handa's Surprise' and engage in discussions about a variety of exotic fruits such as passion fruit and guava. This fosters their attention and listening skills and develops their knowledge of the world.

Older children enjoy desig...ning colourful hand pictures to celebrate the 'National Day of Belonging' and discuss their ideas and the importance of kindness and acceptance with confidence. In addition, children delight in exploring dough and pretending to make biscuits and cupcakes. They eloquently discuss the different toppings and flavours.

This helps to develop their imagination and fine motor skills. Furthermore, they show excellent focus and perseverance when making jewellery with beads. This nurtures their creativity and hand-eye coordination skills.

Staff are excellent role models and have high expectations for children's behaviour. They actively join in with children's play and make the sessions fun. Staff know children extremely well.

They are attentive to children's interests and individual needs. Consequently, children form strong bonds with staff and each other. They play collaboratively together and behave exceptionally well.

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

Children have excellent opportunities to play outdoors. Their originality, imagination and creativity really shine through as they play in the enchanting forest school area. Children show enthusiasm and focus as they build dens and use a wide range of natural resources in their play.

For instance, children enjoy selling 'space rocks' from a wooden market stall and making potions with mud, sticks and leaves in the mud kitchen. This fosters their storytelling and collaboration skills.Children are curious learners and confident communicators.

They express that they love attending the club and the staff are very kind and friendly. They also state that they enjoy the wide variety of experiences and 'there is always something fun and exciting to do'. Children evidently enjoy attending and flourish at the club.

Staff place a strong focus on interacting with the children. They engage in meaningful conversations about their day at school, project work and plans for the weekend. Furthermore, children are confident to discuss their play and ideas with visitors.

They demonstrate high levels of self-esteem and positive attitudes towards learning.Children are very well supported to be active and adopt healthy lifestyles. For instance, they have fun playing football and basketball outdoors.

They also ride scooters and bikes. Staff actively join in and give them guidance and tips on developing different sporting techniques. This helps to support children's physical and emotional well-being.

Children are extremely independent. They enjoy voting for different activities and new resources. Staff listen effectively to their ideas and interests.

They frequently plan experiences on their request, such as making smoothies or having an inflatable party. This helps to build children's confidence and self-esteem in their own decision-making skills.Staff plan an array of exciting experiences to teach children about similarities and differences.

For instance, children decorate lanterns and explore hand painting as part of learning about Diwali. This helps children develop their knowledge and understanding of the wider world.Leaders and staff are passionate about their work.

They show high levels of integrity in providing an inclusive environment. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive good levels of support, and staff make small adjustments to the menu and activities to cater for all children. Equality and inclusion are at the centre of the club's ethos.

Leaders and staff have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They complete a full induction and have regular supervision meetings to successfully support staff's continued professional development. In addition, staff engage in targeted training to specifically meet the needs of children and to help them plan an exciting programme of activities.

Partnerships with parents are very well established. Parents are extremely complimentary about the club. They state that 'the staff are fully committed and amazing' and they are very impressed with the quality of the activities and projects their children join in with.

In addition, they express that staff are very approachable and they receive excellent communication about their children's time at the club.

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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