The Hollow Lane Club Exeter

Inspection of The Hollow Lane Club Exeter Ellen Tinkham School, Hollow Lane, EXETER EX1 3RW

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This provision meets requirements

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the club. Dedicated and passionate staff plan stimulating activities to keep children engaged and motivated. Staff value children's ideas and incorporate these into routines. For instance, they provide children with choice on whether to participate in the activities, relax in a quiet space or help prepare dinner. Children enjoy placing toppings on their pizza and staff encourage them to do so independently.

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This provision meets requirements

Children feel safe and secure. Staff support them extremely well. Those who work in the on-site school also work in the club, helping to provide familiarity for the children. Staff and children have formed positive relationships. Staff know children exceptionally well and cater for all their individual requirements at the highest level. They ensure children can communicate their needs using a variety of effective strategies, such as through a picture exchange system.

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This provision meets requirements

Children behave well. Staff provide them with consistent routines and boundaries to help children understand what is expected. They actively support children when they find tasks difficult and encourage them to persevere until they succeed. For example, staff help children to squeeze icing out of a tube onto their biscuits. This helps to support their confidence.

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need to do better?

n Parents speak highly of the club and of the amazing support staff provide for the whole family. They report on how their child has developed their social skills and communication since joining. Following COVID-19 restrictions, parents comment how staff provided their children with 'social stories' to help ease their way back into the club. n Staff comment on the effective leadership team, who encourage them to pursue their professional development. Staff receive plenty of training to help keep their knowledge up to date. Staff have cheerful dispositions and high levels of well- being. They say they enjoy working as a team to help benefit the children in their care. n Children enjoy sensory play. Younger children relish finding hard objects hidden within mashed up jelly. They love the feeling of squeezing the mixture in their hands. Older children learn how to make play dough using a visual recipe card.

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need to do better?

They follow the pictures to ascertain how much flour, water and salt they will need to create a dough mixture. They enjoy kneading and manipulating the ingredients together. n Staff encourage children to develop their physical skills, both inside and out. Younger children enjoy swinging on hammocks attached by a hoist from the

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need to do better?

14 November 2023 ceiling and climbing on the equipment in the garden. Older children have opportunities to participate in adventure activities, such as paddle boarding, sailing, rock climbing and yoga. Additionally, all children can make use of the heated swimming pool on the school site. n Staff support children who, sometimes, find it difficult to communicate how they are feeling. They encourage children who dislike loud noises to wear their personal ear defenders, so they can continue to engage in activities. For those children who are very active, staff provide them with frequent 'movement breaks' to enable them to be active in between focused activities. This enables children to sustain their concentration for short periods during activities of their choosing. n Children enjoy decorating biscuits as part of creative play. They choose which coloured icing they would like to use and design their own pattern or face. For

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need to do better?

instance, some children make smiley faces with icing on their biscuit. They talk to visitors and staff about how the face is 'happy'. n Staff help children to recognise pictures of charity mascots, such as 'Pudsey Bear' for 'Children in Need'. Children choose to either paint or colour in these pictures, enabling them to express their creativity and imagination.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are confident in child protection procedures and are alert to when children's welfare may be compromised. They know to contact relevant local safeguarding partners should they have any concerns about children or staff. Leaders ensure all staff keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date in line with current legislation to ensure they can act on any concerns. The premises are secure. Visitors have their identity and suitability rigorously checked before they have any contact with children. A secure keypad system on the club doors helps to prevent any potential unauthorised visitors from gaining access to the building where children play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2649676 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10304955 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 25 Number of children on roll 85 Name of registered person The Hollow Lane Club CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01392 463823 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Hollow Lane Club Exeter was re-registered in August 2021 and is located on the grounds of Ellen Tinkham School in Devon. The club offers care Monday and Tuesday after school from 3.30pm to 6pm. The club opens one Saturday per month and 12 days during the summer holidays from 10am to 4pm. There are 15 members of staff who work with children, 10 of who hold relevant qualifications from level 2 to 8. Five staff are unqualified.

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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 their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the club. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n Parents shared their views of the club with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the club. n The general manager showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure they are safe and suitable for children.

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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 November 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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