Head Start Care Club

Inspection of Head Start Care Club Smallthorne Primary Academy, Chetwynd Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1PR

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This provision meets requirements

Children are extremely well behaved. They are a positive representation of the club they attend. For example, they take care of all the resources and happily volunteer to tidy up after themselves. Children demonstrate their knowledge of the club's routine. For example, as they enter, they immediately hang up their coats and bags and wash their hands for snack. Children show high levels of independence as they help themselves to the balanced meals that staff provide. They eagerly butter their own bread and successfully use the knife to cut it into pieces. Children enjoy taking nature walks to find different fruits, such as pears.

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This provision meets requirements

Children explore their environment with confidence. They enjoy sensory activities as they use their hands to squeeze, roll and pull the play dough. Staff use lots of enthusiasm to get children excited to join in. Children are curious learners. For example, they watch in awe at the changes that take place as they mix different materials together.

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This provision meets requirements

Children show high levels of concentration as they attempt to put puzzle pieces together. Staff use a range of different strategies to support them. For example, they encourage the children to look at the different images to see if they will go together and look for the straight edge. This approach supports children to keep on trying until they are successful.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are ambitious. They use every opportunity to reflect on the club's strengths and to develop further actions for what they still want to achieve. This approach is successful in continuing to raise the overall quality of the club to the highest possible level. Leaders remain focused on providing a safe space for children to become confident and positive learners. n Staff speak incredibly highly about the support they receive from leaders. They comment that leaders go out of their way to ensure that staff feel valued and appreciated. Staff celebrate 'wow' moments together in recognition of what they are doing well. Staff have access to a range of training that enables them to continuously improve their knowledge and practice. n Leaders have recognised the impact of COVID-19 on children's language development and social skills, and this has become the focus for the club. Staff work hard to introduce new action and describing words to enhance children's

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need to do better?

language skills even further as they play. They also encourage children to be helpful towards each other if their peers require support. n Staff are positive role models. They praise and recognise the children's efforts as they play. Staff support children to learn about and celebrate what makes them

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need to do better?

23 September 2022 unique. They use the different events throughout the year to teach the children about their similarities and differences. Consequently, children are respectful and show lots of care towards each other. They are well prepared for life in modern Britain. n Parents speak highly about the club as they comment that staff are very helpful. They add that their children love attending the club every day. Staff keep parents informed about any key information from school. They provide parents with a range of different techniques they can use to support their child's well- being and behaviour at home. n Staff work well in partnership with school. They have regular discussions with children's teachers about the children who attend or who are due to attend. Staff work collaboratively alongside school and parents to develop care plans and behaviour management strategies, where necessary, to create consistency

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need to do better?

for the children. n Staff confidently reach out to other professionals, where there are concerns about a child. They seek support and guidance for how they can work together to create the best possible outcomes for children. Staff set individual targets for the children to achieve. They make referrals in a timely manner to ensure that children receive the specialist help or support they require. n Staff provide children with a range of different foods. They have regular discussions with the children about the importance of 'moderation'. Staff work well with parents as they support them to provide balanced meals for their children. They create lots of opportunities for children to be physically active outdoors. This provides a sound foundation for children to learn about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The club is safe and secure. Staff recognise a wide range of different types of abuse, such as the 'Prevent' duty, female genital mutilation and county lines. Staff identify well the action they would take to keep children safe from harm. For example, making referrals to external professionals, including the police and social services. Recruitment and other procedures in place check that staff are and remain suitable to work with children. Staff recognise the action they should take if they are concerned about someone in a position of trust. This includes contacting the designated officers and Ofsted.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2603665 Local authority Stoke-on-Trent Inspection number 10251625 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 25 Name of registered person SP Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01782 575733 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Head Start Care Club registered in 2020 and is in Stoke-on-Trent. The setting employs five members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. They open from Monday to Friday, term time from 3pm to 5.30pm and school holidays from 7.30am to 5.30pm, they are closed for bank holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the club received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the club. n The inspector viewed the club and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to and viewed feedback from several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

23 September 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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