Atlas Camps Stroud - Cashes Green

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Children say that they have a great time at the holiday camp. They all arrive with enthusiasm and receive a warm welcome from the caring, friendly staff. There is a happy atmosphere within the camp and a buzz of excited conversation as children share their news with their friends and staff.

On arrival, children choose activities from the selection that staff plan to engage their interest. For example, some children draw, while others join in an energetic game of volleyball with a member of staff. Children move between activities as they wish and staff respond quickly to requests for alternative activities.

For example, chi...ldren ask staff to play a popular card game that challenges their mathematical skills. Staff challenge some key stage 1 pupils to line up toy cars and then collect and count as many cars that match the colours staff call out. Children carry out the task with great enthusiasm.

Children remain engaged and motivated in their play.Children know the daily routine and tidy up initial activities ready for the morning briefing. Staff use this effectively to help children to understand behavioural expectations.

They encourage children to recall Atlas Camp's five values of 'kindness, perseverance, honesty, respect' and 'team work'. Children offer ideas of how they might act to promote these values. Staff also encourage children to play an active role in planning the day's activities.

Children converse with one another and suggest favourite ball and group games, and art activities. Staff embrace children's ideas and include them alongside planned themed activities.Children clearly enjoy the company of the staff, who make sure every child is occupied and happy.

The children of different ages, including some from different schools, play well together and form friendships. Children are confident and independent.

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

The senior management team and staff have an excellent awareness of children's individual needs, interests, life experiences, and family backgrounds.

They use this knowledge very well to ensure that every child is included and valued. They provide sensitive support to children who speak English as an additional language and for those with medical needs. Each day, children discuss which activities they would like added to those already planned and staff embrace their ideas.

Staff know that some children like to build so set out construction resources. Children build houses and tell visitors about their design ideas with great enthusiasm.The staff team are highly competent and enthusiastic in their roles and team spirit is very evident.

Each staff member understands their role and responsibilities and instinctively knows when to play an active role in children's play and when to let them play freely. When children play freely, this enables them to develop confidence in their skills and expand their creativity.Staff skilfully manage children's behaviour while impressively fostering their self-esteem.

Children learn to follow instructions promptly and to be polite and considerate of others. The oldest children offer assistance to younger children and include them in their play. Staff implement a reward scheme that works highly successfully to promote positive behaviour.

Children earn stickers to add to their 'values booklet' alongside written praise from staff to acknowledge their achievements, such as showing patience and acts of kindness. On hearing the achievements of others, children cheer their peers. Children receiving praise smile broadly, showing a great sense of pride.

Staff plan plenty of opportunities for children to be physically active, indoors and outdoors. For example, children thoroughly enjoy team games, such as football and relay games. They enjoy chaos tag, hide and seek and dodgeball.

They run and demonstrate their agility as the manoeuvre within the play space and use the challenging outdoor play equipment. They climb and balance competently, with staff providing vigilant supervision to ensure children's safety.Children develop their creativity as they engage in planned arts and crafts activities.

For example, children create superhero and villain pictures by drawing around their hands or completing painted hand prints. They add features and talk about the hero qualities of their characters. They select and mix colours, creating different colours.

Parents praise staff and the provision highly. They report that staff provide good information about children's experiences and how they have been. They praise how well staff meet children's individual needs and ensure their well-being.

The senior management team monitor the effectiveness of the provision highly effectively. They implement an effective staffing structure, recruitment and induction processes, and ensure staff are suitably trained and supported to ably fulfil their roles. They work with staff to review the success of camps and to identify any aspects for improvement.

They continually strive to ensure that children have fun and receive high-quality play experiences.

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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