The Great Group

The Great Group Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5DF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 January 2017 21 May 2013

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The manager and staff have developed effective procedures to support the efficient running of the club. Staff are aware each day of their roles and responsibilities. They are deployed well to support and supervise children in all areas of the building.  Staff ensure children are aware of safety procedures. Children understand when staff blow one whistle it means they have to stop and listen and three whistles means they must leave the building.  Children demonstrate their understanding of words and writing as they play games with staff. They think carefully about how many letters are in the words they want staff to guess.  Children of different ages and from different schools are making very effective friendships. This has a positive impact on children's well-being. For example, they develop a wider circle of friends as they move through the school year groups.  Exceptional partnerships with parents are in place. Parents speak very highly of the

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This provision is good

staff and the excellent quality of care they provide. They feel staff provide a safe place for their children, where they are able to relax and enjoy play after their day at school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The management committee do not routinely monitor and support the manager's practice, in order to sharply target the ongoing development of the club to the highest level.  The manager and staff do not always consistently reflect on the views of parents in their good evaluations of practice.

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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

 make more effective use of information gained through supervision meetings to support the manager to develop practice to the highest possible level  seek and consistently reflect on the views of parents to enhance the already good evaluation of practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of activities and assessed the impact this has on children's enjoyment.  The inspector discussed children's involvement in an adult-led activity with a member of staff.  The inspector held discussions with the club manager and members of staff.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the evaluations of practice, evidence of the suitability of staff working in the club and the safeguarding policy and procedure.  The inspector spoke to parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are knowledgeable about how to protect children and the course of action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The management and staff monitor and evaluate the quality of the provision. Children have talked to the staff about the benefits of having a children's council at school and are keen to develop this at the club. They feel this will help them express their views even more. The management team implements robust vetting procedures to ensure that children are cared for by suitable adults. The manager holds regular supervision meetings with staff to discuss their practice and identify suitable training opportunities. Staff meetings are used to reflect on the day-to-day running of the club, to refresh staff's safeguarding knowledge and to discuss the individual needs of children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide an organised and well-planned environment where children have fun and play freely. Children are eager to engage in the activities available to them. For example, they build detailed models with construction toys and enjoy craft activities. Children carefully colour in wooden lolly sticks to represent stems on the flowers they are making. They use scissors skilfully to cut out their hand-drawn flowers. Children's language and communication skills are very well promoted through group discussions, role play and meaningful dialogue with staff. Staff observe children as they engage in play and planned activities. These observations are recorded and shared with parents. Staff use regular conversations with children's teachers at school to enable them to support children's learning through the play activities they offer at the club.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children flourish in this safe and caring environment. They thoroughly enjoy their time at the club and are reluctant to leave if their parents arrive early. Staff provide healthy food and children are highly independent. Staff sit with children at teatime and hold social conversations with them. They are skilled in offering children advice and reassurance, relevant to their ages. For example, when children talk about new babies at home, staff explain how digestion works so that they understand why babies are sometimes sick after feeding. Staff quickly clear away the tables after tea to enable children to have more space for physical games, such as football. Children of all ages play cooperatively and older children support the younger ones, helping all children to succeed. Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff use praise effectively to reinforce positive behaviour and good manners. Children are involved in developing the club rules and they understand what is

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

expected of them. Staff act as outstanding role models as they are consistently polite and considerate towards each other and the children. This has a positive impact on children as they act accordingly with staff and each other. Through the summer months, children enjoy gardening projects. They plant and care for growing fruit and vegetables. This helps them make healthy food choices as they enjoy eating their fresh produce at the club.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 146803 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1063623 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 - 11 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 108 Name of registered person The Great Group Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 May 2013 Telephone number 07811 529 511

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reference number

The Great Group was registered in 1996. The club employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The club opens from Monday to Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 7.40am until 8.55am and from 3.15pm until 6.15pm.

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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

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

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