Squirrels Springhead

Inspection of Springhead Springhead Infant and Nursery School, Cooper Street, Springhead, Oldham OL4 4QT

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This provision meets requirements

Springhead is a busy and lively out-of-school provision. It is well established within Springhead Infant and Nursery School. Children arrive at the club happy and ready to join in with the interesting games and activities. The manager deploys staff effectively across the two adjacent rooms that the club occupies. She carefully checks that external doors are secured at the end of the school day. This helps to keep children safe.

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This provision meets requirements

Parents praise the approachable and friendly practitioners. They say that children look forward to attending the club. Parents particularly praise the team's attention to detail with regard to meeting children's individual health needs. For example, children with allergies to particular foods are catered for safely.

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This provision meets requirements

Children, generally, behave well. They engage eagerly with the different activities and make new friendships with children from other age groups. For example, they sit and chat together to complete craft projects, such as decorating small gift boxes. However, on occasion, practitioners do not promote children's positive behaviour really consistently.

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need to do better?

n The well-qualified manager takes account of parents' views when she evaluates the provision. For example, the manager has introduced meetings with the parents of new children. She helps parents to complete the club's registration forms and explains the club's policies and procedures to them. This helps to promote the club's partnership with parents even more effectively. Practitioners join in with children's play. They take account of children's requests when they plan which activities to put out each day. n The manager observes practitioners and helps them to improve their professional skills and knowledge. This is demonstrated when she delegates specific areas of responsibility to them. For example, one practitioner takes the lead in organising and replenishing the art and craft resources. Practitioners feel encouraged to try out their own ideas. n The partnership with the school is effective. Practitioners carefully check which

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need to do better?

children are on the register before they go to collect them from classrooms. Teachers pass on information about the day and this helps club practitioners to promote children's well-being at the club. Parents comment that practitioners always pass messages to them from school. n The team's approach to risk assessment is effective and helps to keep children safe. For example, on the day of the inspection, the school host a general election polling day and stage Christmas nativity performances. Practitioners

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need to do better?

12 December 2019 demonstrate extra vigilance. They modify arrangements for checking that the premises are secure at the start of the after-school session. In a further example, practitioners use a separate room to iron children's patterns of small plastic beads into mats. They explain to children that the iron is too hot to bring into the play area. This helps children to understand and manage common risks to their safety. n Children often play cooperatively. They listen to each other's ideas and help to tidy up. However, there are instances when the manager does not establish the expectations for children's conduct clearly enough. This does not help children to develop the very highest levels of self-control. For example, conflicts sometimes arise when children want the same piece of equipment. n The safe management of medicines is a particular strength of the provision. Managers carefully maintain up-to-date supplies of children's long-term

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need to do better?

medication. They work in close partnership with parents to make sure that they have the correct details about the dosage to administer. n Children have fun joining in with energetic activities that help to promote their coordination and physical fitness. For example, children hold on tight to the edge of the parachute. They raise and lower it to try to make the ball stay on top for as long as possible and giggle when it rolls off. Practitioners provide a healthy snack for children after school. This contributes to children's good health. However, on occasion, they do not help children to make informed choices about how much of each type of food to eat.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager demonstrates up-to-date knowledge of local procedures for child protection. She knows what to do if an allegation is made against a member of staff in the provision. The provider ensures that practitioners are trained to understand and implement the club's safeguarding procedures. For instance, practitioners know what to do if a child discloses information that indicates that they may be at risk of harm. Systems for the safe recruitment of practitioners are robust and carefully followed. The provider rigorously checks the suitability of applicants before they start work. Newly recruited practitioners complete an induction process. This helps them to understand their role and responsibilities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY308045 Local authority Oldham Inspection number 10065409 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 3 to 7 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 76 Name of registered person Squirrels Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07967005109 Date of previous inspection 2 June 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Springhead registered in 2005. The club employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds a qualification at level 6, one holds a qualification at level 4 and one at level 2. The club opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Out-of- school sessions are from 7.30am until 9am and from 3pm until 6pm. Holiday-club sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector met with the provider and the manager before children arrived at the club. They discussed, for example, the provider's suitability checks for practitioners working at the club. n When children were collected from their classrooms, the inspector accompanied practitioners. She observed the safe transfer of children from school to the club. n The inspector observed routines and activities. She interacted with children. For example, she sat with children at the craft table and asked them what they like about attending the club. n Two parents of children who are in the early years age range talked with the inspector, who 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

12 December 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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