Squirrels Springhead

Springhead Springhead Infant and Nursery School, Cooper Street, Springhead, Oldham, OL4 4QT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 June 2016 26 January 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The manager uses accurate and targeted self-evaluation to monitor the quality of the provision. She uses feedback from children, staff and parents to identify any areas for improvement and make positive changes. There have been significant improvements since the last inspection.  There is a very strong focus on promoting children's physical health and well-being through active play. The outdoor play facilities are excellent. Children spend a great period of time outdoors exploring in the nature area, playing physical games on the large fields, making dens and climbing trees.  Experienced and highly qualified staff use their knowledge of young children's development well. They plan rich and varied experiences to motivate and engage all children. Children are happy, content and demonstrate that they have a wonderful time at the club.  Children learn good social skills, which contributes towards their future learning in

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This provision is good

school. Staff are great role models who encourage children to share and take turns. Older children considerately support younger children during activities and routines. Children are well mannered and behave extremely well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although staff are supported to gain further qualifications and training, systems do not offer consistent opportunities for them to share their skills and knowledge with each other.  Sometimes, staff do not provide children with a quiet area or space to rest and relax.

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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

 provide opportunities for staff to learn from each other and share their skills and expertise that improves practice to the highest level  develop the area available for rest and relaxation that helps children to engage in quiet activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed all areas of the club, observed play and learning opportunities for children and spoke to the manager, staff and children at appropriate times.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, discussed the club's self-evaluation and action plans, policies and procedures and checked evidence of staff suitability.  The inspector took account of the views of a selection of parents through written documentation obtained prior to inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. A secure entry system prevents unauthorised access to the club. Recruitment procedures are robust. Staff are thoroughly vetted to ensure they are suitable to work with children. Daily checks on the environment and risk assessments on equipment are implemented well by staff. All staff are trained in child protection procedures and paediatric first aid. This contributes towards keeping children safe. Overall, the manager provides good support to staff through supervision meetings and observations of their practice. This helps to ensure they have the skills needed to meet all children's needs. Partnership working with parents and school teachers is strong. Staff find out about children's individual capabilities and school themes. They use this information effectively to provide activities to complement children's current interests and learning in school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The environment is organised so that children have access to a variety of interesting and stimulating toys and equipment. Staff help children to develop awareness of technology. A favourite activity is playing on hand-held games. Children develop excellent writing skills. There is an array of mark-making tools available. Children write lists and letters, and older children capably use twigs to spell out words during outdoor play. Children construct pieces of large branches as they make a limbo den to climb under. They collect grass to make the area safe, should someone fall over. This demonstrates how children are learning to be considerate and think about safety and risk. Children's imagination is well fostered. They enjoy playing hide and seek, delighting as staff pretend to be the hungry tiger who is seeking them out. Staff skilfully introduce counting into daily routines, which helps children's mathematical awareness. Children are provided with many opportunities

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

to be creative. They dress up, play in the well-resourced role play area and make musical instruments using rice. They have fun making sounds with them.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

There is a cheerful atmosphere and staff and children thoroughly enjoy their time together. Staff are very responsive to all children, which helps them to develop high levels of self-esteem. The key-person system is effective. Consistent staff collect younger children from their classrooms, which helps to support children's emotional security. Staff value children's input and they make many independent choices in their play. Staff use a raffle ticket system and award a star of the week certificate to acknowledge children's positive behaviour. This helps to boost their confidence. Snacks are healthy and well balanced. Staff reinforce positive hygiene routines and encourage self-help skills, which contributes towards children's good health and independence. Children confidently use climbing apparatus, including large tyres. They enjoy games of tennis and eagerly catch frisbees as staff throw them in the air.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY308045 Local authority Oldham Inspection number 1041389 Type of provision Out of school provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 3 - 10 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 62 Name of registered person Squirrels Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 January 2015 Telephone number 07967005109

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reference number

Springhead was registered in 2005. There are five members of childcare staff employed to work at the club, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2 to 4. The club is open during term time, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 9am and from 3pm to 6pm. During school holidays the club is open Monday to Friday from 7.30pm to 6pm.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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reference number

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

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