Ultimate Activity Camps at St Gabriel's School

Ultimate Activity Camps at St Gabriel's School St. Gabriels School, Sandleford Priory, Newtown Road, Newtown, NEWBURY, Berkshire RG20 9BD

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Inspection date 13 August 2019 Previous inspection date 28 July 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 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 Not Applicable

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This provision is good

n The leadership team has high expectations for its staff and has good policies and procedures in place to help them achieve these. Once settled, the professional staff know what is required of them and how to deliver it. Staff provide very good role models for the children. n The leadership team gathers information about children's individual needs from parents before the start of the camp and shares this with key staff. However, at times, this information is vague or contradictory and needs clarification if staff are to provide the best continuity in care. n Staff are very skilled in developing children's creative thinking and curiosity to investigate the world around them. Children look in more detail and marvel at nature. They investigate how things work, fix things and solve problems together. n Children form secure attachments with key staff as the day progresses. However, these can be slow to start when staff do not prepare themselves well enough to welcome

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This provision is good

each individual child into the camp. n Children learn a little about the similarities and differences of their lives compared with those of others. For instance, many take part in a brief and joyful fundraising activity to provide similar holiday clubs for children in another country. They get a glimpse of a different lifestyle and actively take some responsibility for helping others. n Parents speak highly of the club staff and managers. They recognise the challenges of getting to know children very quickly. Parents say that, overall, their children are very happy at the club and that they feel reassured that their children are kept very safe on site.

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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 make better use of the morning briefing to share and check information given by parents to further support continuity in children's care n strengthen the effectiveness of the key-person role at the outset of the day to help children settle in quickly and become more confident to explore further.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed, listened to and talked with children as they played. n The inspector reviewed policies and discussed the procedures relating to children's safety and welfare with the provider. n The inspector looked at children's records, staff's planning and evaluation of activities, and information exchanged with parents. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and reviewed written comments from parent questionnaires. n The inspector undertook a joint observation with the provider and spoke with the staff about the impact of their training, experience and practice on children's well-being.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The leadership team follows thorough procedures to promote safe recruitment. They select high-calibre staff, such as qualified teachers, experienced early years professionals and students studying to be teachers and sports coaches. Staff are very skilled in managing children's behaviour, raising their enthusiasm for trying new activities and developing children's self-confidence. The club manager continues to appraise and guide staff to help them develop their practice even further. Managers ensure that staff supervise children well in all areas and activities at the club. For example, they deploy staff who are qualified in paediatric first aid across the camp effectively and make good use of radio contact to monitor children's care. Safeguarding is effective. Staff induction training equips staff with the knowledge and procedures they need to protect children and meet their welfare requirements. Staff know when and who to contact to safeguard

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

children. They quickly secure additional medical care when it is needed.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff check that children understand the activities they have planned for the day and adapt them to meet children's interests. Children feel secure in staff's care and gain the confidence to share both their concerns and their absolute delight as they meet new challenges. Staff observe children carefully. They acknowledge the skills children have and quickly raise their aspirations to higher levels. For example, children learn tips to improve their batting and fielding skills in a game of scatterball. Staff encourage good teamwork and share their enthusiasm for children's efforts. Children learn the names of their peers as they cheer them on and thoroughly enjoy making new friends. Staff vary the range of activities they offer and balance periods of high activity with calmer times. Children enjoy using different apparatus safely and have time to develop their creative and imaginative play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff follow thorough risk assessments to keep children safe in the indoor and outdoor play areas and activities, including swimming. Children get plenty of physical exercise and enjoy exploring the wonderful parklands and fields. Staff prompt children to think carefully about what they might observe before they explore habitats, such as woodlands. They successfully nurture children's sense of awe and wonder. For instance, children become amazed at the diversity in just one wildlife area when they begin to think what they might find there. Children return from their adventures keen to share their excitement about their discovery of different footprints and the imaginative stories they have created around creatures that live in the woods. Children enjoy their time at the club. They meet new people and challenges, and become more self-assured as they succeed in new games.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY460219 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10112949 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 Out-of-school day care Age range of children 5 - 11 Total number of places 80 Number of children on roll 497 Name of registered person The Ultimate Activity Company Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 28 July 2015 Telephone number 0330 1117077

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reference number

Ultimate Activity Camps at St Gabriel's School registered in 2013 and is located in Newbury, Berkshire. The camp is open in the school holidays from 8am to 6pm. There are 21 members of staff in total, eight of whom work directly with the children in the early years age group. Of these, three staff hold qualified teacher status and another holds a degree in early years studies. One member of staff is qualified at level 3, one at level 2 and there are two students who support the team.

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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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