Barracudas (Chelmsford)

Barracudas (Chelmsford) Chelmsford County High School, Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1RW

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Inspection date 21 August 2019 Previous inspection date 2 April 2015

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Not Applicable

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This provision is outstanding

n Children are extremely excited as they enter the activity camp and are exceedingly eager to join in. Staff offer a vast range of activities that children find inspiring, challenging and absorbing. n Staff build an excellent rapport with the children and help them to settle quickly into the camp. They liaise exceptionally well with parents and gather information from them about their children's abilities and character. This ensures that staff are thoroughly aware of children's interests and capabilities and the level of support they may need. n Staff praise children frequently and award them certificates for their achievements. This helps children to feel valued. Children are proud of their accomplishments. They are extremely well motivated to continue learning new skills. n Children develop exceptional communication and language skills as they interact with other children and staff. Children who speak English as an additional language develop

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This provision is outstanding

excellent spoken and written English extremely quickly. They are supported by staff who are experts in their field. n Staff share information about children's learning with their parents continuously. They provide excellent reports for other settings and the schools that children attend. This helps to ensure that staff in other settings can continue to build on children's learning and development successfully. n Parents and children provide extremely positive feedback about their experiences of the camp. Children say they have 'amazing fun' and parents say the camp is 'brilliant'. Staff ask children to evaluate their activities and to identify what they like to do best. This supports staff to provide ongoing activities they know the children enjoy.

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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 implement the existing plans to extend the already excellent system for information- sharing with parents and other settings, to continually maintain the exceptionally high aims for children's development.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed the quality of staff interactions during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's development. n The inspector carried out joint observations with the early years manager and the manager of the camp. n The inspector held discussions with the managers and spoke to staff and children. n The inspector took account of the views of parents by speaking with some of them during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the suitability and qualifications of staff, activity timetables, policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. The safety of children is a priority at the camp and for the Barracudas company as a whole. Recruitment of staff is rigorous and their suitability is assured. Staff receive exceptional training in safeguarding prior to every holiday season. All staff are extremely confident to speak about safeguarding and how they would record and report any concerns. They carry safeguarding information on their badges to ensure they have all the necessary contact information to hand. Staff are fully aware of their responsibility to protect children on the premises and they supervise children extremely closely. They ensure that children follow the rules and regulations of the camp and understand how to keep themselves safe. Staff give children warnings about other people, such as builders, working on site and inform them to report to staff if they are approached by a stranger. Senior staff monitor the practice of other staff randomly

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

throughout the day. This supports staff in their work and ensures that children receive the best possible care and learning opportunities through all of their activities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Early years staff monitor the progress of young children carefully. They observe them as they play and identify ideas for their further development. Managers have identified plans to keep improving on their information-sharing system to make sure that parents and other settings are even more exceptionally well-informed about children's achievements. Many children attend the camp for only a short time. Nevertheless, the dedicated and experienced staff are skilled at identifying children who need additional support during activities. Staff provide experiences that meet children's individual needs and interests exceedingly well. They support children to grow in confidence in their abilities. For example, young children are supported by staff and lifeguards in the swimming pool to develop their skills and they achieve amazing results. Children abandon their initial uncertainty as they splash out, knowing staff are there to support

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

them. Staff encourage children to try out various sporting activities that promote their physical well-being. Children listen intently and with interest. Specialist sports staff enthusiastically instruct them in the correct way to use equipment and play different games.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children thoroughly enjoy the many energetic games provided, both indoors and outdoors. These include physically and mentally challenging activities such as fencing, mini Olympics and motor sports. There are also many creative and sensory activities that are calming and restorative. For example, children mix together ingredients to make 'bath bombs'. They learn about the names of scientific components as they experiment with different elements. Children also practise their small-muscle skills when using tools for a purpose. They explore a variety of materials as they design and fashion masks for a make-believe masquerade ball. Staff teach children about foods that constitute a healthy diet. Children talk about the contents of their lunch boxes and are eager to show each other the different fruit they have for their snacks. Children discuss each other's cultures as they explore the different types of food they eat for their lunch. They learn to

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

respect other people's traditions and value their customs.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 203427 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10112924 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 4 - 14 Total number of places 192 Number of children on roll 665 Name of registered person Young World Leisure Group Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 2 April 2015 Telephone number 01480 467 567

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Barracudas (Chelmsford) registered in 1999 and is one of a chain of holiday schemes run by Young World Leisure Group Limited. The activity camp employs 44 members of staff. Of these, four staff hold qualified teacher status, four staff hold qualifications at levels 6 and 7, six staff hold a qualification at level 5, 11 staff hold a qualification at level 4, 17 staff hold a qualification at level 3 and two staff hold a qualification at level 2. Specialist staff, such as lifeguards and sports instructors, also work with the children. The activity camp opens Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm during Easter and school summer holidays.

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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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