The Gap Club Breakfast, After School & Holiday Club @ Homer First School, Windsor.

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This provision meets requirements Staff at the club provide a welcoming environment for the children to play and relax within after their day at school. They make full use of the areas within the room and grounds to provide activities and challenges for the differing needs of the ages of children present.

Children show they feel happy, safe and secure. They demonstrate the strong bonds they have with staff and are confident talking to them and playing alongside them. Management and staff work together to create an outline plan of activities and experiences they feel children will enjoy.

However, this is used as a flexible base for children themselves to bu...ild on. For example, in a 'meet and greet' session discussion staff discover children's love of penguins. They provide ice cubes, toy penguins, polar bears and seals, and stones to create an Arctic activity.

Children enjoy sharing with staff how penguins waddle, do not live with Santa Claus in the North Pole and icebergs are cold. When children wanted to extend this outside, staff happily supported this and joined in. Children eagerly share and take turns as they work together to collect water, sand and animals to create a new 'habitat'.

Children can choose how they wish to relax. Staff encourage children to talk during the 'meet and greet' session. Staff use this as an opportunity to find out about children's day and share what is available to them to use.

For example, children can unwind in the cosy reading area, play board games with their friends, be creative with the art and craft resources or do an activity, such as about penguins and their habitats. Children happily explain to adults how they love attending the club and what they like best, whether it is playing outside or being creative inside.

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

The provider, management team and staff have a clear vision for the club.

They strive to make improvements that benefit the children and the community they serve. The provider takes an active role in the club and works alongside management and staff. She gathers the views of the staff, parents, and children to improve the service she provides.

Children explain how they love attending and talk fondly about the staff and how nice they are.Management and staff prioritise children's safety and well-being. They implement robust recruitment and induction procedures to ensure that staff are suitable and aware of their roles and responsibilities.

Staff deploy themselves well and follow the effective policies and procedures to ensure children can play safely. Management monitor staff's knowledge of safeguarding children and provide them with regular training to keep this up to date. Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of what to do if they have a concern for a child's welfare.

Staff are positive role models and work with children in setting rules and boundaries. Children know the rules and staff support them to take ownership for managing their behaviour. They were observed to be polite and considerate towards others.

Staff spend time listening to children and encourage them to share their views and interests so they can incorporate these into the club activities and discussions.Staff build on children's understanding of healthy lifestyles. They remind children of the importance of keeping hydrated, particularly after they have been active outside.

Prior to snack time, they remind children about the need to wash their hands before eating, and children all do this before finding a seat at the table. Mealtimes are social occasions. Children politely asked their friends to pass the butter or cheese, and have discussions with staff on their food likes and dislikes as they make their own rolls.

Children enjoy a range of physical activities, both inside and outside. They climb, swing and negotiate on the outside play equipment. Children use racquets and balls to play tennis and team up to play football with staff.

Staff immerse themselves in the play and children enjoy these interactions and the physical outlet it provides after their day at school. Inside the room, staff provide creative resources for children to freely choose from. Children confidently show adults how they have created pictures sticking gems to paper, their pipe cleaner models and their drawing and cutting.

Parent partnerships are effective and staff demonstrate that they have positive relationships with parents and include them in the activities of the club. Staff and parents share two-way dialogue about the children to ensure their needs are being met. Management and staff communicate with parents in a variety of ways, discussions on collection of the children, emails, newsletters and seeking their views via questionnaires.

Parents explain how their children enjoy attending the club and the staff are friendly.

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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