Natural Steps After School Club

Natural Steps After School Club ''The Globe'', 12 Portman Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 1EA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 June 2015 8 December 2014

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Inadequate 4 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 Staff promote children's personal, social and emotional skills well. They also effectively help children to extend their communication, language and physical development in this busy and happy environment.  Staff manage children's behaviour well and are clear and consistent in their expectations. Children are encouraged to respect and tolerate other people.  Good health is promoted as staff encourage children to make healthy choices at mealtimes. Children demonstrate increasing awareness of good hygiene routines.  Parents comment very positively about the provision and the friendly welcome that they and their children receive from staff.  Staff have a good understanding of all aspects of safeguarding and the action to take if they have concerns about a child in the setting.  Staff make the most of opportunities to undertake training courses. This is reflected positively in staff skills as they interact well with the children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children cease their play and then wait for a lengthy period of time for their meal. This means that they become noisy and unsettled.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 improve the organisation of mealtimes so that children do not wait for a long period of time for their food.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector toured the premises and viewed resources with the manager.  The inspector observed the children and staff at play.  The inspector examined records and documents provided by the manager and observed an activity with the manager.  The inspector discussed the setting with parents.  The inspector discussed the provider's self-evaluation.

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who attend. This is good

Staff provide a variety of activities they know children enjoy. For example, staff provide paper, crayons, pencils and scissors and a suitable safe place for their use. Some children soon become engrossed in writing and making their own creations. Staff take an interest and encourage them. Staff encourage children to write their names and words on their work, building on their skills. Children demonstrate their increasing coordination as they build with wooden blocks and share ideas about their creations. Staff ensure the environment is inviting when children arrive, enabling children to access resources immediately. Staff talk to parents each day. This helps staff to understand the individuality of each child in their care. Parents comment very favourably on the quality of the service the club provides.

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good

Staff promote healthy lifestyles well as they talk to children about healthy eating and good hygiene routines. Children develop an awareness of safe behaviour as staff gently remind them of the rules that help to keep them safe. For example, children remind each other to walk and not run in the dining room. Staff have well established links with the schools they serve. Carefully planned settling-in arrangements help to ensure children feel secure and relaxed, and enjoy the play opportunities they offer. Staff are positive role models. They calmly manage the children's behaviour, talking to them quietly and patiently.

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provision is good

The manager follows robust recruitment and vetting procedures to help to check the suitability of staff working with the children. All staff are encouraged to continue their professional development. This helps to build their confidence and skills and, consequently, improves the outcomes for children. Well-developed supervision and appraisal systems help to ensure staff performance is managed effectively. The manager is proactive in her efforts to improve the provision. Self-evaluation is informed by staff, children and parental views. This enables clear development plans to be made to enhance the service further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY305089 Local authority Reading Inspection number 1014302 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 4 - 8 Total number of places 55 Number of children on roll 15 Name of provider Community Mission Project Date of previous inspection 8 December 2014 Telephone number 01189 514444

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Setting details

Natural Steps After School Club registered in 2005. It is located in Reading, Berkshire. It operates a breakfast club from 7.30am to 9am and after school club from 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Holiday provision is provided between 8am and 6pm in school holidays. There are 15 staff, of whom one holds Early Years Professional Status and four hold relevant qualifications at Level 2 or Level 3.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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