Locking Stumps Lynx Club

Inspection of Locking Stumps Lynx Club Locking Stumps Community Primary School, Glover Road, Birchwood, Warrington WA3 7PH

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This provision meets requirements

Children clearly enjoy attending this vibrant and friendly club. They excitedly arrive after their busy school day and are keen to chat to staff and their friends. Staff warmly greet children and check on their well-being. Children are encouraged to talk about how they are feeling through the club's special 'link bear' and daily discussions. This helps children to feel settled, safe and secure. Children have a real sense of ownership at the club. They contribute to the planning of activities and are able to choose where they wish to play and what resources they would like to use. This contributes successfully to children's self-esteem and sense of belonging.

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This provision meets requirements

Children behave exceptionally well. They have created their own 'golden rules' that include being kind to one another, showing good sportsmanship and being respectful. Children play harmoniously together and older children demonstrate kindness, concern and patience with their younger friends. Children are aware of routines and what is expected of them. They are assigned special tasks to assist staff and relish this responsibility. Staff continuously praise children and encourage children to choose a 'special prize' in recognition for their efforts, kindness and achievements.

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This provision meets requirements

Children coped well during the COVID-19 pandemic, playing in their allocated bubbles. Now children, especially those younger, are developing their confidence in social situations and larger groups. Staff gently encourage children and promote independence at every opportunity. For example, children skilfully manage their self-care skills, sanitise their hands before and after eating and tidy away their plates and cups when they have finished.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the children extremely well and have developed warm and trusting relationships with them. They liaise with school staff and gather pertinent information from parents when children first begin attending the club. This helps children to settle well and ensures that activities match their interests and what they like to do. In turn, this has a very positive impact on children's behaviour, their enjoyment levels and their motivation. Children are happy, animated and enthusiastic to participate in all aspects of the club. n Children enjoy being creative. They carefully create Valentine's Day cards and practise their writing skills as they write special messages. Children are able to express their thoughts and ideas through the sensitive direction and skilful questioning of staff. n Children have many opportunities to develop their imaginative skills as they

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need to do better?

7 February 2023 create structures with small bricks. Children proudly share their creations with the inspector and talk confidently about what they have made and how they have achieved it. They concentrate well as they fit pieces together, solve problems and overcome challenges when building their structures. This demonstrates their resilience and determination. n Staff encourage children to learn the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Children are able to play outside in the fresh air daily, where they enjoy competitive games such as football. During activities such as baking staff talk to children about sugar and the impact it can have on their teeth. Children enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks and their dietary requirements and preferences are effortlessly catered for. n Staff have developed effective partnerships with the host school. They attend staff training days and engage in regular dialogues with teaching staff to enable

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need to do better?

them to successfully support the children that attend. Furthermore, staff complement learning that is taking place in school. Some staff working within the club are also employed by the host school. This supports continuity of care and aids children's transitions into the club. n Staff feel well supported and valued and there is a real team ethos apparent among staff. Staff enjoy participating in supervision meetings, where they receive detailed feedback regarding their practice and professional development. Furthermore, leaders observe staff and the quality of their interactions with children. This helps to ensure that children receive a high-quality provision and that their needs are met effectively. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents are very complimentary about the club and comment on the friendliness of the staff team. They describe how their children enjoy attending and that the two-way flow of communication between

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need to do better?

the school and the club is extremely beneficial.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their responsibility to safeguard children. They attend regular training to ensure their knowledge remains up to date and discuss safeguarding issues during staff meetings. Staff understand the action to take if they have concerns about the welfare of a child and are aware of other agencies that play a key role in protecting children from harm. Staff confidently describe what they would do if they had concerns about a colleague's practice and how to escalate their concerns if needed. Staff are very vigilant. They deploy themselves effectively and ensure that children are always appropriately supervised.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY360080 Local authority Warrington Inspection number 10264796 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 45 Number of children on roll 78 Name of registered person Burke, Nicola Anne

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reference number

Telephone number 01925 819076 Date of previous inspection 27 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Locking Stumps Lynx Club registered in 2007 and is privately owned. It operates from Locking Stumps Community Primary School in Birchwood, Warrington. It opens each weekday during term time from 7.15am to 8.35am and from 3.15pm to 6pm. The club also operates Monday to Friday during school holidays from 7.30am to 6pm, except during the Christmas holidays and the last two weeks in August. There are seven members of staff who regularly work within the club and of these, four hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and staff, and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The manager showed the inspector around the premises, and talked about how the provision is organised and about the activities provided for children. n The inspector and manager observed an activity together. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She also spoke to parents and took account of their views. n The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including the suitability of staff, qualifications and first-aid certificates.

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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

7 February 2023 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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