Safe Hands

Inspection of Safe Hands St. Cuthberts C of E School, St. Albans Road, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 0HY

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This provision meets requirements

Children are confident and are developing a strong sense of character. They are highly motivated and demonstrate a drive to excel in self-set challenges. Children aspire to the very high expectations that adults have of them. As a result, children consistently display exemplary behaviour, which is conducive to their overall development. Children have an abundance of opportunity to develop skills that are essential to learning. This effectively complements children's learning in school and their self-esteem is boosted. Children possess an astute understanding of the consequences of their actions and this allows them to safely take risks and embark on adventurous play. Children are highly resilient and demonstrate increasing levels of autonomy in their play.

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This provision meets requirements

Children are empowered by adults who provide them with opportunities to make key decisions about the experiences offered to them. As a result, children are accountable, they set rules that they consistently follow. This has created a culture of mutual respect for one another and children understand and embrace what makes them unique. This has provided the foundations for children to form friendships that are nurturing. Children feel a strong sense of belonging, which enables them to navigate their own emotions. They are assured by adults who know when to offer support and when to allow children to achieve things independently. Children are exceptionally well prepared to start their school day.

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need to do better?

n The manager works with integrity. She is conscientious and inspiring in her drive to constantly develop all aspects of the provision. She works in close consultation with children, whose best interests are at the heart of key decisions on how the group is led. This results in a highly accessible and inclusive provision in which all children thrive. n Adults skilfully employ strategies that successfully secure children's emotional well-being. As a result, children are provided with a secure foundation from which to fully engage with the wealth of opportunities provided. This is particularly so in relation to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The manager endeavours to seek, and act upon, the views of parents. Parents comment on how they feel reassured leaving their child in the care of adults who are highly responsive to the key information they provide. The manager is

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need to do better?

improving how sensitive information, relating to children, is collected prior to them commencing their place at the setting. n The manager works closely with the school that children attend. Where necessary, she makes arrangements to hold meetings with key staff in the

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need to do better?

6 May 2022 school. This information is used to inform the arrangements for supporting key children. However, the procedures for working with staff in school regarding multi-agency plans for individual children could be strengthened further. n Adults are innovative in their approach to supporting children to negotiate and manage their actions. As a result, children are becoming skilful thinkers and are able to take appropriate risks in their play. This promotes sustained levels of engagement as children challenge themselves and are pioneering in their own learning. n Adults promote a love of books through role play. For example, children select and buy their favourite magazines from the book shop. In addition, children have the opportunity to explore fictional characters. They act out plots from their favourite films. This is sometimes expressed through music and dance. As a result, children's literacy development is well supported.

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need to do better?

n Children are an integral part of the decision-making processes. Adults meet with children to ask about the types of activities and experiences they would like to take part in. Children work collaboratively as a team to achieve shared goals, they are provided with a budget which they save to purchase resources. As a result, children are learning the essential skills and knowledge necessary to secure their future success. This helps to prepare children for life in modern Britain. n The manager diligently deploys adults according to their key strengths. She has robust arrangements in place for ensuring that staff have the support they need to develop identified aspects of their practice. This includes completing a range of training. This means that adults are able to respond to children's needs as they emerge. As a result, every child achieves their very best.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are vigilant and proactive in responding to any concerns regarding children, should they arise. They understand the procedure to follow if they are worried a child may be being abused. There are procedures in place for staff to report any concerns they may have regarding adults that work with children and the manager knows what steps to take in the event of any allegations being made. All staff have attended safeguarding training to ensure that their safeguarding knowledge remains current.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2550551 Local authority Blackburn with Darwen Inspection number 10221567 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 30 Number of children on roll 208 Name of registered person Alberts, Claire

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reference number

Telephone number 07486 484556 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Safe Hands registered in 2019. It is operated by a private provider from school premises. The club operates between the hours of 7.30am until 8.50am and 3.15pm until 6pm, Monday to Friday, during term times. The club also offers holiday care between 7.30am and 6pm, during school holidays. It closes for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. The club employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, one member of staff holds a level 7 qualification, one staff holds a level 6 qualification, two staff hold level 3 qualifications and one staff is unqualified.

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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 provider. n A joint observation of a planned activity was carried out by the inspector and the manager. n The inspector observed activities and the quality of staff's interactions with children. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at the setting. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector took account of parents' 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

6 May 2022 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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