Happy Hours Out Of School Club

Inspection of Happy Hours Out Of School Club Birchwood Avenue Primary School, Birchwood Avenue, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 0PS

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This provision meets requirements

Children arrive at the club happy and eager to explore the activities available to them. Staff support new children to feel secure, such as by playing with them until they feel confident to explore independently. Children thoroughly enjoy creative activities, such as model making and drawing. They spend time planning what they will make and gathering the resources they need. Children concentrate on their chosen tasks very well and show pride in their achievements.

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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 active play, such as riding on scooters and they have lots of space to run around. Snack is a highly sociable time where children sit together to eat and chat about their day at school. Children are developing a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. As they discuss the rules and values they have devised, children give reasons why these are needed. For example, they talk about how accidents might happen if they run around inside. The relationships between all the children and staff are very warm and respectful. Children's behaviour is excellent.

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need to do better?

n Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the managers consistently reflect on their practice. They work in close partnership with the host school, and together they endeavour to keep children safe. During national school closures, the provider delivered activities to children at home to help them to stay active and engaged in play. n Children are very welcoming and confidently engage in conversations with visitors. They are keen to find out about the inspection and what the outcome might be. Children give their reasons for needing the after-school club, such as, 'I come every day and have fun'. Children invite visitors to join in games with them. At other times, they proudly describe what they have made with recycled resources. Children demonstrate a very strong sense of belonging to the club. n The leadership team is very experienced and staff turnover is relatively low. Despite this, the provider has robust recruitment procedures in place. This helps

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need to do better?

to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Thorough induction and supervision processes enable staff to gain a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and health and safety policies. n Children are very excited to be part of a new venture at the club. They are writing letters to pen pals at an after-school club in another country. This experience is helping children to widen their understanding of the world. Children show great interest in comparing their lives to others. They are surprised with how much they have in common and openly discuss what

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need to do better?

18 October 2021 differences they have. n Parents speak very positively about the club and staff. They describe the club as 'a happy and positive place, where children can be themselves'. Parents say they could not work if they did not have peace of mind that children are safe and enjoying themselves. Many parents say 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 are strong and effective. The youngest children are brought to the club by their class teacher. Children's key persons have opportunities to speak to them to share relevant information. This provides consistency of care for children. n Managers and staff effectively evaluate the service they provide and look for ways to improve. They actively seek the views of children and parents and incorporate their ideas into practice. Children's feedback on the club is very

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need to do better?

positive. They say the club is a fun and exciting place to be. Children describe the staff as being 'kind and respectful'.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff have a secure understanding of child protection issues and know the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. They talk confidently about what they would do if they feel children are at risk of harm or extremist behaviour. All staff complete regular safeguarding training; this helps them keep their knowledge relevant and up to date. The provider has robust policies and procedures in place, these are used to underpin their good safeguarding practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY558584 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10190373 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

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inspection

Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Bailey, Lisa

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reference number

Telephone number 07875713380 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Happy Hours Out of School Club registered in 2018 and operates from Birchwood Avenue Primary School. It opens Monday to Friday from 3pm until 6pm, term time only. There are three members of staff, one of whom holds a relevant level 3 qualification.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and manager and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The inspector and the provider had a tour of the club. They talked about how the club is organised and discussed the play opportunities they provide for children. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions between the children and staff during activities indoors and outside. n Staff, children and parents spoke with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a sample of the club's documentation during a meeting with the leadership team. This included reviewing information about staff suitability and training.

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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

18 October 2021 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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