Play Aloud Cowper

Inspection of Play Aloud Cowper Hertingfordbury Cowper Primary School, Birch Green, Hertford SG14 2LR

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This provision meets requirements

Children are very happy at the club and engage in activities very well. Staff support them to feel settled and secure. For example, children and staff spend time together in the pre-school building while the hall is being set up for the club. Children enjoy sharing stories with staff. They then move happily through to the club, ready for their healthy snack and then play.

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This provision meets requirements

Children choose to take part in many creative activities, such as model making and drawing. Young children concentrate remarkably well, for example when they use pens to draw intricate patterns. Other children take part in designing models, such as hot-air balloons. They talk openly about their dreams and aspirations. These include places in the world children would like to visit. Other children talk of how they will hold positions of power in order to help people who are poor.

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This provision meets requirements

Children are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles. They spend time outdoors whenever they can. Children have opportunities for climbing and space to run around. The provider employs a chef who provides a cooked meal each day. Children relish this as they sit together to eat and share social conversations.

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need to do better?

n The highly qualified staff team is well established and turnover is relatively low. Despite this, the provider has robust recruitment procedures in place. This helps to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Induction procedures are strong and enable staff to gain a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and health and safety policies. n Staff are warm, friendly and approachable. They treat all children with respect and model kindness. In return, children develop these positive attributes, which they demonstrate in their interactions with each other and staff. Children's behaviour is excellent. n Staff receive regular coaching and supervision from the managers. They also observe each other's practice as they seek ways to improve and to support their peers. Managers actively encourage staff to talk about their well-being and look for ways to support them. This results in a dedicated and motivated team.

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need to do better?

n Staff have many opportunities to access training courses. They talk positively about how these help them to develop their knowledge and skills. n Parents speak very positively about the club and staff. They say they have peace of mind that children are safe and enjoying themselves at the club. Parents comment that when they arrive to collect children they are always highly engaged in activities and are reluctant to leave until they have finished. n Partnerships with the host school and adjacent pre-school are strong and

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need to do better?

25 November 2019 effective. Children are collected from their classrooms or the pre-school by the same members of staff each day. This provides consistency of care for children. Staff have opportunities to speak to children's teachers and this enables them to share relevant information. n Managers and staff evaluate effectively the service they provide and look for ways to improve. They seek the views of children and parents and incorporate their ideas into practice. Following a recent health and safety audit, they have made changes to their daily safety checks and now discuss health and safety practices more regularly at staff meetings. n The provider uses a welcome pack to provide information for parents about how the club runs, including information on some of the policies and procedures. However, the detail given on some key policies is limited and does not enable parents to have the best possible information about the provider's

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers and staff have a very good understanding of how to recognise concerns about children. They talk confidently about what they would do if they felt children were at risk of harm. All staff know how to make referrals swiftly, both within the setting and to relevant agencies. They complete safeguarding training during induction and at regular intervals. This helps all staff to keep their safeguarding knowledge relevant and up to date.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY549374 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10130743 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Out-of-school day care Age range of children 3 to 11 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Play Aloud Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07535390823 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Play Aloud Cowper registered in 2017. The club is open five days a week from 7.30am until 9am and from 3pm until 6.30pm, during school term times. During most school holidays, the club operates Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm. There are eight members of staff employed at the club. Three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, and the manager and deputy manager both hold qualifications at level 6.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector had a tour of the club with the manager. They talked about how the club is organised and discussed the play opportunities provided for children. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions between the staff and children during activities. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. She held discussions with the provider, the area manager and the club manager throughout the session. n A sample of documents, including safeguarding policies and procedures and staff suitability records, were seen by the inspector. n The inspector spoke to a sample of children, staff and parents and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

25 November 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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