Jousters At Oakwood

Inspection of Jousters At Oakwood Oakwood Primary School, Oakwood Drive, ST. ALBANS, Hertfordshire AL4 0XA

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This provision meets requirements

Children excitedly enter the club. They are picked up from their classes and greeted warmly by staff. Children are highly independent and show a strong sense of belonging as they know to hang up their personal property on the pegs. Children have a secure and quiet space to unwind and look at books after their day at school.

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This provision meets requirements

Children show that they feel valued and respected. They communicate their needs and wants clearly, and confidently share and express how they feel with staff. For instance, children say how excited they are to be moving into year one next term. Children comment that they love to come to the club because they like the staff and activities. All children are happy, confident and fully engaged in their choice of play. They make independent choices from an organised range of resources and welcome staff's interaction. Children love to be challenged. They wear small toy hands to pick up various objects and even write their name. Children express a keen interest in drawing their favourite characters and proudly show these to staff. Children show respect for their environment. They carefully put away what they have finished playing with before choosing to play outdoors. Staff introduce children to new physical skills that help to develop their control and coordination,

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This provision meets requirements

such as swinging a ball on a short rope to catch it in a cone. Team games, such as football and cricket help children to develop collaboration and trust.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff team are excellent role models and have high expectations of children's behaviour. Children understand exactly what is expected of them and listen and follow instruction well. They are polite and respectful to each other and the staff team. Older children consistently welcome younger children in their play. Therefore, all children play harmoniously together. n Younger children who are due to begin attending the club are warmly welcomed to stay-and-play sessions with their parents. This successfully supports their emotional well-being, as they build early relationships with their key person and become familiar with a new and exciting environment. n Staff know the children they care for very well. They plan flexible activities that consistently reflect children's interests and their ideas. and builds on their experiences outside of the club. For example, following some children's recent

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need to do better?

visit to a fun fair, staff provide a rich range of resources for children to be creative and build a Ferris wheel. They concentrate and persevere to solve problems through trial and error as they work out the best way to insert and secure a straw through the middle of a paper plate.

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need to do better?

23 June 2023 n The provider has high expectations of the service they provide. They closely monitor the quality of the club. The manager and staff regularly reflect on the service they provide and strive for continuous improvement. As a result of parent feedback the club has invested in a new cricket set. Children's voices are truly valued, they express a keen interest in competitive activities, such as quizzes. Therefore, staff have increased the range of topics and frequency of these. n Staff support children to learn the importance of being healthy and following good hygiene routines. They encourage children to wash their hands regularly and provide a range of healthy snacks for children to enjoy. Children choose what filling they would like in their pitta bread. Teatime is a social experience, as staff and children engage in meaningful conversation as they sit around the table to eat. n The provider and experienced manager support the staff team very well. Staff

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need to do better?

comment that they thoroughly enjoy their role and they work exceptionally well together. They regard the team as an extension of their family. All staff demonstrate a commitment to maintaining high standards at all times. n The manager conducts regular supervision meetings with staff. She listens to staff wishes and provides a range of opportunities to support them to continue to build on their knowledge and skills. Regular visits to sister settings have recently proved very successful in enhancing staff's understanding in introducing a wider range of outdoor play that is appropriate in warm weather. n Partnership with the host school enables staff to continue to meet children's care needs and share information with parents when they collect their children. Parents speak enthusiastically about their children's experiences at the club. They express how well their children have settled and how much they love

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need to do better?

attending. Parents appreciate the detailed feedback they receive when they collect their children and how staff provide a safe, fun and engaging environment for their children. They describe the staff as 'absolutely brilliant'.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff complete appropriate safeguarding training regularly and have a good understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as county lines and what to do if they have a concern about a child's welfare. They are clear about the procedures to follow. Staff are carefully checked to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. They carry out risk assessments to help minimise any hazards in the environment. The manager and staff ensure that children stay safe in the sun, and supervise them carefully so that they play safely. The premises are secure so that children cannot leave unsupervised, and unexpected visitors cannot gain access. The manager ensures that a suitable number of staff hold an appropriate first-aid qualification to meet the needs of children in any potential medical emergency.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY367033 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10289014 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 60 Number of children on roll 91 Name of registered person Jousters Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07930617696 Date of previous inspection 9 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Jousters at Oakwood registered in 2008 and is independently run. The club employs seven members of staff. It opens Monday to Friday, term time only, from 7.50am until 8.45am and from 3.15pm until 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 her evaluation of the setting. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector observed children's interactions with staff and monitored their engagement in a range of play activities indoors and outside. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider and manager to talk about how the club is run, and looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the club. n The inspector conducted a tour of the premises and joined staff as they collected children from their classrooms. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and their written feedback.

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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 June 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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Inspection activities

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