Fun 4 Kids At St Michaels

Inspection of Fun 4 Kids At St Michaels St. Michaels Primary School & Nursery, Camulodunum Way, Colchester, Essex CO2 9RA

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This provision meets requirements

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the club. They arrive with smiles and are greeted by the happy, warm and welcoming staff. Children settle well and form strong relationships with staff and their peers. Children are confident and have high levels of self-esteem. They confidentially approach visitors to tell them how much they love the club. Children excitedly show the inspector how to make bracelets. They share with the inspector how much they value staff for helping them with their homework and listening to their worries. Children show high levels of empathy and kindness towards each other. When a child is upset about their bracelet breaking, other children rally round to reassure them that it is ok and how they can mend it. Children learn these positive behaviours from staff who are excellent role models.

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This provision meets requirements

Children behave extremely well and know what is expected of them. Both staff and children show a mutual respect for each other. Children have impeccable manners and are considerate of all others. Staff support children to understand how to keep themselves safe. They remind children how to use the safety knives with care, when cutting vegetables. Children are very independent. They make their own snacks and wash up their plates. Children learn life skills, such as how to safely cut fruit and vegetables. They thoroughly enjoy play activities based on their interests and what they are learning about in school. They proudly talk about their Flanders Fields model they have made.

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need to do better?

n The management team has high expectations of staff. The team value their knowledge and skills and build on those to ensure the best outcomes for children. Staff are given specialist roles based on their skills and interests. They are passionate about the roles they do. As a result, children receive high-quality care. n Staff provide a calm and relaxing, home-from-home environment for children. Children settle exceptionally well and form very close attachments to staff and their peers. n Children's well-being and self-esteem are at the heart of everything staff do. Staff understand the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on children's emotional well-being. They have put a variety of tools in place to help children manage their emotions. Staff talk to the children about how they are feeling every session. They also use activities, such as sensory bottles, scribbling or counting to help children manage their feelings. Staff have created a 'buddy'

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need to do better?

system. Children are picked each session to keep a look out for children who are feeling sad or may need a friend to talk to or play with.

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need to do better?

12 November 2021 n Staff value children's opinions. They encourage children to contribute their ideas to what activities they have at the club and children have created their own 'club rules'. This shows children that they are valued and respected. n Staff are very skilled in their approach to interactions with children. They are always close by and at children's level. Staff enthusiastically engage in play with children. They seize opportunities to reinforce or build on what children are learning about in school. n An excellent variety of resources and activities are available. These engage children and help them build on their imaginations and creativity. n Staff get to know children really well and build strong relationships with their parents. Parents comment that their children love the club so much they never want to leave. n Staff understanding the importance of promoting children's physical health.

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need to do better?

Children enjoy a wide variety of physical exercise and fresh air every session. They engage in sports activities, such as football, basketball and running games. Staff also embrace children's decision to bring toys from inside onto the playground, such as doll's houses and drawing. n The management team and staff have formed strong relationships with the local schools that children attend. They keep in regular contact about children's development, needs and safety. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they continuously liaised with the schools to ensure that they were doing everything they could between them to keep everyone as safe as possible.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a very good knowledge of safeguarding. They can identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and know the action to take if they have concerns. Including if they have a concern about other staff members. Thorough recruitment measures are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. The management team and staff keep up to date with risks that children may come across on the internet. Staff talk to children about how they can keep themselves safe online. Staff also speak to parents about the latest concerns and what they can do at home to keep their children safe.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY563480 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10194281 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 25 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Fun 4 Kids Colchester Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07944648731 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Fun 4 Kids At St Michaels registered in 2018 and is situated within the grounds of St Michaels Primary School and Nursery. The club employs five members of childcare staff. All hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 and above. During term time, the club offers a breakfast session from 7.30am to 9am, and an after-school session from 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The club also operates in the school holidays, Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the club. n The inspector took a tour of the club with the manager. 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 during activities indoors and outside between staff and children. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n Parents shared their views of the club with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the club.

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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 November 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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