St Thomas After School Club

St Thomas After School Club St Thomas Infant School, Woolton Hill, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 9XF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 March 2018 2 December 2014

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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 is a conscientious and experienced leader. She knows her community well and works very effectively with her staff team to meet the needs of local children.  The manager ensures that her staff are suitably knowledgeable and skilled for their main roles and responsibilities. For instance, most staff hold current certificates in paediatric first aid, food hygiene and child protection. Regular staff meetings also provide a forum for staff to share new ideas and good practice.  Staff monitor the meals and the activities they provide to check they account for every child's preferences and interests. For instance, they vary the afternoon tea they provide, especially when children are learning about different cultures and festivals. Children try new foods and enjoy finding out more about different tastes and celebrations.  Children quickly develop greater confidence in mixing socially with children of different

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This provision is good

ages and with different interests. They say this makes it easier for them to play with others during school time and when they go to other activities in the community.  Parents say their children are very happy to attend the club and that they are very confident in the care of the manager and her staff.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make the best use of opportunities that arise in children's discussions to develop their understanding of how to use modern technology safely.

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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

 build on opportunities to discuss online safety with children to develop their understanding of how to manage modern technology safely.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed, listened to and talked with children as they played and ate their tea.  The inspector talked with parents and listened to their views about the club and their children's progress.  The inspector looked at children's records, discussed staff's planning and evaluation of activities, and how they exchange information with parents.  The inspector reviewed records and procedures relating to safeguarding and risk assessment, and discussed a range of other procedures relating to children's welfare with the manager.  The inspector offered to complete a joint observation with the manager. Together they observed and discussed how staff encouraged children's independence at teatime.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager is well qualified in early years education, safeguarding and child protection. She guides, and is well supported by, her resourceful parent committee and dedicated staff team. For example, the committee's recent focus on data protection helps to ensure that the club keeps information about children secure as they use different technology to enhance procedures. Safeguarding is effective. The manager checks that staff have a robust knowledge of the action to take should they have any concerns about children's protection. She makes current key information easily accessible for parents, such as the contact details for the Local Safeguarding Children Board and Ofsted. Parents and carers can easily access the club's detailed policies and procedures. They have a good understanding of what to expect from the club and the procedures staff follow. The manager ensures children are at minimal risk of any harm as they play and investigate.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff continue to enhance their already very good provision even further. They invite children and their parents to contribute to the club's evaluation and identify potential improvements. For example, staff have recently extended the activities available to better meet the interests of the larger cohort of younger children who now attend. They respond quickly to children's current interests, such as making pictures from small beads and providing a special weekly focus on arts and crafts. Staff supervise children carefully and encourage their achievements as they play indoors and outdoors. For example, children enjoy learning to play tennis and persist in developing a more powerful stroke. They run off any tensions in the day through activities, such as playing football and as they team up to create new imaginative games in the playground.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Long-standing partnerships with the host school help to maintain consistency in care for the children. For instance, staff have the same high expectations for children's manners, fair play and respect for playground rules. Staff provide children with opportunities to talk about their day. They listen attentively to children's views and discuss ways to share their ideas more effectively. They know the children in their care well and nurture their interest, tolerance and understanding of each other gently and kindly. Children look forward to spending time with friends of different ages and try out new activities as they relax after school. For example, staff set up a good range of areas where children can stretch out with activities of their choice, curl up with a good book or take a few minutes out to watch part of a favourite film. Children have time and opportunity to relax and regroup before taking on new challenges, conversations and chosen activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110493 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1070114 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 24 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person St Thomas' After School Club Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 2 December 2014 Telephone number 07790 637156

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reference number

St Thomas After School Club registered in 1999 and operates in the village of Woolton Hill, Hampshire. The club offers after-school care for children at the infant and local junior schools. It is open each weekday during school term time, from 3.15pm to 6pm. The club employs six staff, four of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 3 or above.

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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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