Mac's Club

Inspection of Mac's Club Castleward Spencer Academy, Carrington Street, Derby, Derbyshire DE1 2LY

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This provision meets requirements

The owner and manager are knowledgeable and ensure the club is well organised and inviting. Children arrive happy and enthusiastic for the session ahead of them. Staff greet them with warmth and excitement, and there is a clear ethos of mutual respect and kindness. Children are relaxed and settled at this friendly club enabling them to form positive friendships and thoroughly enjoy the company of the staff who care for them. Children make choices about the activities they wish to take part in. Children have plenty of safe opportunities for fresh air and exercise on the host school playground. They choose if they would like to play racing games, push scooter boards developing their large muscles or blow bubbles and watch them float into the sky.

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This provision meets requirements

Children enjoy quieter activities, such as playing with toy dinosaurs, reading books in a dedicated quiet area and mark-making activities. For example, they enjoy practising writing their name and creating Halloween pictures. Children become deeply engaged in their chosen play and activities. They play harmoniously and children of all ages are well behaved and considerate of each other. Children speak to new adults with confidence and are keen to explain why they enjoy attending the club so much.

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need to do better?

n Staff form trusting relationships with children, which help them to feel safe and welcome. They speak with children about recent important events in their lives, such as achievements at school. Children show they feel secure and well cared for as they go to staff for reassurance. n Staff know the children well. The manager collects detailed information from parents before children start at the club. Younger children are assigned a key person, so that they have a familiar adult to form a relationship with as they settle in. Children already know some staff because of their roles within the school. This helps to provide continuity of care for children. Staff are aware of what the school curriculum is teaching children and complement this with activities they plan for children. However, they have not gathered individual children's specific next steps in learning from school. n Staff join in with children's games and praise them for their skills and individual

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need to do better?

abilities and achievements. Staff adapt the support they offer and the expectations they have of individual children, depending on each child's stage of development. For example, staff use malleable activities to develop younger children's fine motor skills and older children's imagination. n Children are well behaved while at the club. They are polite to each other and staff. Children help each other to tidy up, take turns with resources and listen to

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need to do better?

16 October 2023 one another as they imaginatively build with plastic bricks. Staff help children to regulate their emotions. They talk to children about how they are feeling and provide strategies to help children to manage their behaviour. For example, staff talk to children about taking deep breaths and counting as they breathe, to help when they feel anxious. n Children are provided with a range of healthy snacks and staff encourage children to try new foods. Snack time is a social occasion. Children sit and talk to their friends and develop table manners. Staff talk to children about healthy eating and how food provides their bodies with energy. n Staff communicate well with parents. They gather comprehensive information from parents about their children. For example, they find out about children's likes and dislikes, family members and any medical needs or allergies, to ensure children are fully supported. Parents are extremely complimentary about the

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need to do better?

club and the approachable and friendly staff. They speak of how happy they are to have this provision on the school site. n The owner has a commitment to the well-being and development of staff skills. She has meetings with individual members of staff to check on their mental health as well as providing training to support their practice. This helps to keep staff up to date with new ideas and practice. For example, staff have received training to enable them to support children to learn how to manage their own behaviour and understand their feelings and emotions.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The owner and staff demonstrate a secure understanding of safeguarding. They are confidently able to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse. They demonstrate an excellent understanding of how to record and report any concerns about the children or staff. Leaders and staff communicate well regarding safeguarding. Keeping children safe is a priority for everyone. The owner conducts appropriate checks to ensure that they employ staff who are suitable to work with children. The manager and staff carry out daily risks assessment to ensure that children play in a safe and suitable environment. Staff use effective and daily risk assessments to keep children safe while on the secure premises.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2653421 Local authority Derby Inspection number 10305368 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 15 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person McDonald, Venice Ann Marie

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reference number

Telephone number 07527 233495 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Mac's Club registered in 2021 and is situated in Derby. The club employs two members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The club opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 7.30am until 9am and 3.25 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 provider. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk around the club to share what the staff provide and how this assists children in their learning and development. n The quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors was observed, and the inspector assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with management, staff, parents and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of 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

16 October 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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