Comet Club

Comet Club St. Mary The Virgin CofE School, Pheasant Way, Shaftesbury Road, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4LP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 November 2016 22 October 2012

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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

 Children behave very well. They are helpful, share their toys and games easily and play cooperatively. Staff keep clear, consistent boundaries and praise children often.  The management team and staff continue to review their practice and make ongoing improvements. For example, they evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of activities and identify ways to develop these and support children's future learning further still.  Positive partnerships are formed with parents and staff keep them clearly informed of children's activities. They work well together to support children's specific care needs.  Staff provide a good range of activities that motivate children's interest and continuing participation. Children become absorbed in their play and develop good concentration.  Children respond happily to staff and benefit from their friendly approach. Children are relaxed and comfortable at the club and develop a positive sense of emotional security.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Parts of the session are not organised effectively to fully support the needs of all children. This means children are sometimes left waiting or have their play disrupted as they move rooms.  Staff miss some opportunities to develop children's independence and social skills and encourage them to do things for themselves and their friends further.

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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

 review the organisation of parts of the session to prevent children waiting and reduce disruption to their play  make more use of opportunities within everyday routine activities to encourage children's social and independence skills further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's interactions in play indoors and outdoors.  The inspector viewed documentation, such as operational policies, procedures and required records, including those for suitability.  The inspector had discussions with the management team, staff and children.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken with at the visit.  The inspector discussed self-evaluation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a clear awareness of safeguarding issues and their responsibility to protect children. The management team understands appropriate recruitment and employment systems. It continually assesses the suitability of staff and supports their professional development. For example, staff have attended further training that has helped them understand more extreme behaviours and views relating to the wider aspects of safeguarding children's welfare. The management team implements clear operational policies and procedures, such as for recording incidents and accidents, and staff support children's overall well-being and safety effectively.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff communicate regularly with children's teachers and provide activities to support those that children do at school. They plan activities using children's ideas and this effectively encourages children's interest and creativity. For example, younger children concentrate hard as they carefully build a tall tower of bricks or work out how to make a robot's helmet from cardboard boxes. Older children become absorbed drawing detailed pictures or playing favourite board games together. Staff actively encourage children's exploration of colour and texture. For example, children enjoyed painting sparkly firework pictures using bright coloured paints and glitter. Children make mosaic patterned coasters or use colourful leaves they have collected to make interesting prints.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff encourage children's physical well-being effectively. For example, children are keen to play outside and skip, play ball games or climb and balance on stepping stones. They learn the steps of traditional dances and gain confidence in controlling their movements. They laugh with delight as they blow bubbles outside and see them pop. Children learn to be kind and considerate of others. For example, older children happily act as a 'buddy' for their younger friends. They help them recognise the daily routines of the day and where to keep their personal belongings. Staff actively support children's awareness of nutritious foods. For example, children enjoy making meals such as vegetable soup, fruity couscous salad or a strawberry smoothie. Children develop good self-care skills and clearly understand the need to wash their hands before eating or cooking activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY388155 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 1058890 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 4 - 8 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Elestar Services Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 22 October 2012 Telephone number 01747824446

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reference number

Comet Club registered in 2009. It is a privately owned club operating from the school hall and classrooms within St Mary the Virgin Church of England School, situated in Gillingham, Dorset. The owner also has two day nurseries within the area. The club is open Monday to Friday from 7.45am until 8.45am and 3.25pm until 6pm, during school terms. There are three staff employed, two of whom hold childcare qualifications at level 3.

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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

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reference number

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reference number

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