Ultimate Activity Camps at St Hugh's School

Inspection of Ultimate Activity Camps at St Hugh's School St. Hughs School, Carswell Manor, Carswell, Faringdon SN7 8PT

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This provision meets requirements

Children are made very welcome at this holiday activity camp. As they arrive, they are greeted warmly by cheerful staff, who check children have everything with them they need for the busy and fun day ahead. Staff are especially attentive to younger children, or children who are coming to camp for the first time. Staff explain to these children what they will be doing, and help them make friends with other children. This all helps children feel safe and happy to be there.

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This provision meets requirements

Staff want all children to enjoy the activities on offer and have a positive experience at camp. Although activities are planned in advance, each day staff consider the interests and ages of the children attending and adjust the timetable accordingly. This helps ensure all children have a positive attitude to being at camp and approach activities with enthusiasm.

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This provision meets requirements

Children take part in activities that enhance their all-round development very effectively. They learn lots of new skills as they learn the rules to different sports. They also have opportunities to develop their artistic and creative skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff are very successful at meeting the needs of younger children within the context of a mixed-age camp. With this in mind, staff provide a 'base room' for these younger children, filled with toys, resources and books designed for this age group. Children thoroughly enjoy spending time there, playing with their friends. n Staff place a high priority on helping children develop a positive attitude to following an active and healthy lifestyle. Staff pace the day well for children, ensuring there are periods to rest and rehydrate between periods of physical exertion. Staff remind children of the importance of sun protection and regular snacks. This helps children learn to follow a healthy lifestyle for themselves. n Children enjoy the variety of the day. They enjoy swimming and ball games. They have fun exploring woodland areas and learning about nature. They also enjoy the times when they can play more freely, catching up with siblings and

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need to do better?

friends of other ages. n Staff put children's safety at the heart of what they do. They carry out very thorough risk assessments of all activities. The camp manager is in regular contact with staff at the host school, enabling her to know about any other groups who may be on site at the same time. This enables her to ensure children are always supervised closely and the site remains safe and secure. n Staff are clear and consistent about their expectations for children's behaviour. They gather children together at the beginning of each day to remind them of

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need to do better?

21 July 2023 the camp rules. Children listen well and show they are remembering these. The resulting good behaviour enables the camp to run smoothly, safely and happily. n Children benefit from good levels of consistency in staffing. They see familiar faces each day, which adds to their sense of well-being. Staff are kind and engaging. They show interest in children's lives and hold lots of conversations with them throughout the day. Very occasionally, some staff are less confident in how to respond to younger children who are anxious about taking part in activities new to them. n Children show pride in what they can do. They enjoy the challenges staff set them, such as to find the longest log or the biggest leaf. They enjoy learning more about the natural world. For example, children enjoy learning what the word 'fungi' means. They listen to what staff tell them and then join in, sharing what they already know too.

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need to do better?

n The camp manager and staff from head office work together extremely well to ensure staff are well equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to work at the camp. There is a robust programme of induction training before each camp opens for the holidays. This enables staff to meet children's needs very well and ensure attending camp is a positive experience.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff receive robust and effective safeguarding training. They are clear about signs that could indicate a child is at risk of harm or neglect. They know how to respond to any such concerns, to keep children safe. For example, staff know to listen to and record what children say, to promptly share it with relevant personnel withing the organisation, and to escalate it to outside professionals if need be. They know what to do if concerned about a colleague's conduct. Leaders follow robust recruitment arrangements, to ensure those they employ to work with children are suitable to do so.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2639324 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10285989 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 107 Number of children on roll 143 Name of registered person The Ultimate Activity Company Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0330 111 7077 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Ultimate Actvity Camps at St Hugh's School registered in 2021 and is situated near Faringdon, Oxfordshire. It operates 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, during some school holidays. The provider employs 12 members of staff, of whom two hold qualified teacher status and one holds a relevant qualification at level 3.

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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 provider. n The inspector had a tour of the premises and found out about the types of activities staff offer children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector observed how staff interacted with children, and evaluated the impact of these on children's engagement. n Parents and children shared their views, and the inspector took these into account. n The inspector held a meeting with a representative of the provider to find out about the leadership and management of the camp.

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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

21 July 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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