The Downley After School Club

Inspection of The Downley After School Club The Downley School, Faulkner Way, Downley, HIGH WYCOMBE, Buckinghamshire HP13 5AL

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This provision meets requirements

Children arrive enthusiastically at this out-of-school club and they are warmly greeted by staff, who welcome them in. Children's confidence is built from supportive staff, who reassure them. As children settle in, they choose a place to sit to wait for their friends to join them before the manager takes the register. Staff create a friendly, inclusive environment, where children feel safe and cared for. Staff make adaptations to meet the needs of individual children, to help them settle and enjoy their time at the club. Key persons ensure young children feel understood and cared for. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, benefit from their time spent at the club.

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This provision meets requirements

Children enjoy developing their physical skills, with gentle support from staff. They kick balls to staff and each other, climb and balance on outdoor play equipment, and enjoy riding bikes as they chase each other around the play area. Children of all ages work in harmony together to construct a building out of large wooden blocks and planks. Older children support younger children to access the area as they carefully climb over the obstacles.

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This provision meets requirements

Staff are mindful of children's emotional needs and take care to inform them of any changes at club, such as visitors. They take time to listen to and answer children's questions, taking an interest in what children have to say. Children contribute their ideas for activities and are very much involved in what happens at the club.

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need to do better?

n The manager gives regular feedback to staff to support the improvement in their work. Staff promote good relationships and robust information sharing with parents and carers from the start. Parents report that their children enjoy coming to the club, and they welcome the information they receive about their children's day. Links with the local school, which is based on the same site, are very effective. Communication between the school is strong. This supports a shared approach for children's all-round development. n Staff, including those who have recently joined, are knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities to support and protect children. The provider and the manager offer a broad range of training, so that staff can continuously improve their knowledge and practice. For example, they encourage and facilitate staff to complete relevant formal qualifications. Staff are engaged and interested and

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need to do better?

report that they enjoy their work at the club. They feel able to share any concerns they may have and state that they feel supported and valued. n Children have great fun as they roll and squeeze dough and decide what they need to add when the mixture is too sticky, such as more flour. They enjoy the

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need to do better?

14 September 2023 club activities provided. For example, they develop their creative skills and concentrate well, following written and picture instructions to make their own play dough. n Generally, children are busy and positively engage in activities during the session. However, there are periods of time when children wait to move on to the next activity and are not engaged in play. At times, they are not offered alternative resources or activities to keep them fully occupied. n Staff promote children's self-care skills and some aspects of their independence. When children arrive at the club, they are encouraged to put their belongings away tidily and follow good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands before having their snack. However, at times, staff complete tasks for children they could manage themselves. Staff serve children their snacks, for instance, instead of encouraging children's independence. This does not consistently

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need to do better?

enhance their skills for the future. n Staff support children's language and communication skills well. They engage in conversations with children and listen to their views and opinions. For example, children spontaneously tell staff and visitors about their day. Staff ask children thought-provoking questions and give them time to think and respond. This helps children become confident communicators and further develops their social skills. n The manager and her dedicated team have clear aims for the club. They endeavour to provide a safe space for children to play and have fun, so they want to attend. The manager says they aim to provide an environment for children where they can develop life skills, such as learning what is appropriate behaviour, being confident and being tolerant of others.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff receive safeguarding training and have a good knowledge of child protection issues. They understand their responsibilities regarding child protection. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child's welfare. The provider and manager implement robust recruitment and induction procedures to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Ongoing suitability checks are part of a robust approach to keeping children safe. Staff carry out risk assessments to identify and remove any hazards, so it is safe for children to play. They supervise children well.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY419849 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10305421 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 65 Number of children on roll 250 Name of registered person Downley After School Club Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01494 448 577 Date of previous inspection 21 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Downley After School Club registered in 2010. It is open between 7.45am and 8.45am and 3pm and 6pm from Monday to Friday, during term time. In addition, it is open between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday during school holidays. There are 13 members of staff. Of these, the manager holds a relevant childcare qualification at level 5 and a further five staff hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 2 or 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n A joint observation was completed by the manager and the inspector, indoors during a focused activity. n The inspector held a discussion with the manager in relation to the leadership and management of the club. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of recruitment, staff's qualifications and their suitability to work with children. n The inspector spoke to parents, children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector observed children's interactions in play indoors and outdoors and discussed the activities provided for them with staff.

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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

14 September 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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