Halton Kids Club

Halton Kids Club The Centre at Halton, Low Road, Halton LA2 6NB

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Inspection date 28 June 2019 Previous inspection date 27 January 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n The manager and staff show a firm commitment to their roles and are invested in the ongoing success of the pre-school. They reflect on the strengths of the pre-school and areas to improve. Staff are proactive in using new skills and information to make enhancements to practice. For example, following research on outdoor spaces, staff created an excellent area outdoors, rich in opportunities across all areas of learning. n The learning environment is extremely well informed and carefully considered. Staff use their excellent knowledge of the children to create opportunities closely linked to their interests and developmental needs. As a result, children are challenged and motivated. They become deeply engaged during their play, show very positive attitudes towards their learning and make excellent progress. n Children play harmoniously with their peers. They are seen sharing their favourite resources, safe in the knowledge they will have another turn due to the excellent focus

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This provision is good

across the pre-school of being kind to one another, thinking about how others feel and the importance of sharing and taking turns. n Teaching is good. However, on occasion, conversations with children are led too heavily by staff asking multiple questions, rather than meaningful exchanges. n Children receive a warm welcome to the pre-school. They arrive happy and confidently join in with the available activities. Children enjoy positive attachments with their key person and grow in confidence during their time at the pre-school, providing a strong base for their learning and explorations. n Overall, partnership working is strong. Staff engage parents in their children's learning, maintaining a two-way-flow of communication and information sharing. However, parents are less involved in initial assessments of their children's learning on entry.

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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

n strengthen good teaching further and refine questioning skills so that conversations with children are more balanced and meaningful n build on information obtained from parents regarding what their children can already do, and use this to inform initial assessments to enable closer support when children first start.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during play inside and outside, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the pre-school manager. n The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held a meeting with the pre-school manager. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection and by viewing other written comments. n The inspector looked at children's records, evidence of the suitability of staff and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The manager monitors staff teaching closely to ensure there are high levels of care for children and her expectations for teaching are reached. For example, she observes how staff interact with children and provides them with helpful feedback and advice to support their future performance. Staff are well qualified and keen to build on their skills and knowledge further. Staff are proactive in seeking intervention for children at the earliest opportunity. They work well with other agencies to ensure children's needs are evaluated and where they can offer additional support. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures, which helps protect children's safety and welfare.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their assessments of children's learning to create opportunities to support them to reach their next steps through an effective balance of 'in the moment' and pre- planned activities. Staff are excellent play companions, joining in with children's play ideas and using their teaching skills to steer their learning in different directions and present challenges. For example, during play with the dough, children make birthday cakes and decorate them with candles. Staff ask children how many candles they have and how many more or less they need to reach different numbers.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have good opportunities to learn about the wider world. The enjoy festival celebrations and explore artefacts such as Hindu gods and Buddha statues. There is a very strong emphasis on community spirit and involving children in their local community. Children recently embarked on an initiative to help with the issue of dog faeces by making their own bag dispensers that they installed around the area. This led to conversations around health, safety and finding ways to help the local community. Children enjoy healthy snacks, regular outdoor play and practise excellent hygiene routines, which further promotes their understanding of health. Children's physical and emotional well-being is fostered well.

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Outcomes for children are good

Any additional funding that children receive is spent well to ensure they get the support they need to make the best possible progress, such as extra-curricular sessions specifically linked to children's needs. As a result, children at risk of falling behind catch up quickly. Staff have had great success in engaging children in technology through the addition of specific resources. Children confidently use the pre-school computer, explore the light box and enjoy investigating how things work at the 'tinker station'. This has helped to narrow any gaps in their learning. Children enjoy practising their letter sounds and many capably write the letters of their name. They count, estimate and measure, using excellent mathematical skills. Children are developing the necessary skills for their future learning and the eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY454575 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10106697 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 3 - 10 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Halton Kids Club Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 27 January 2015 Telephone number 0782570621

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reference number

Halton Kids Club registered in 2012. The setting employs eight members of childcare staff, seven of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications, including the manager who holds qualified teacher status. The setting opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 9am and 3pm until 6pm for the out-of-school club, and 9am until 3pm for the pre-school. The setting provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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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procedures set out in the guidance Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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