Hopscotch Kids Club

Inspection of Hopscotch Kids Club Heathlands Primary School, New Church Road, West Bergholt, Colchester, Essex CO6 3JF

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This provision meets requirements

Children eagerly enter from the host school and are greeted by nurturing and friendly staff. Children instantly feel relaxed, safe and a sense of belonging as staff show genuine interest while listening to children talk about their day. Clear and consistent routines provided by staff support children's understanding of what is expected of them. Young children who have recently started show an abundance of confidence and increasing independence when hanging up their coats and belongings on their peg upon arrival, before helping themselves to the healthy snack provided.

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This provision meets requirements

Children are enthusiastic learners and talk passionately about the joyful and exciting experiences they have at the club. Resources consider children's interests and seasonal themes. They are regularly rotated and cover all areas of learning. Arts and crafts are a firm favourite for many children. They freely access a wide range of craft materials and relish the freedom to be creative in their own way. Children play happily together. Older children delight in inviting their younger peers to join in their outdoor ball games. Children enjoy the snuggle area where they can wrap up in a blanket and read a story or play a game of choice with their peers.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have a reciprocal and highly effective relationship with teachers at the host school. Working together and daily communication ensures staff plan activities that complement learning experiences at school and promote children's overall well-being at the club, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The manager attends positive behaviour training alongside the host school. This cumulative approach means that positive behaviour strategies are consistently reinforced and embedded in the culture of the school and the club. As a result, children frequently show how they can regulate their own behaviour exceptionally well. They understand and accept the needs of others, such as when writing their name on a list to wait for their turn with a popular toy. n Children build secure relationships with staff and peers. Staff encourage positive attachments by being frequently responsive to children's needs. Children are

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need to do better?

extremely kind and polite. Staff are excellent role models as they gently remind children to say 'please' and 'thank you' and consistently praise their good manners. n The manager explains how she ensures the indoor and outdoor environments are safe, through robust, daily risk assessments of the club. Children's individual health care needs are prioritised. Daily procedures are securely embedded in staff practice and care plans regularly reviewed with parents. For example, a

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need to do better?

16 February 2024 meticulous and safe process is in place at mealtimes with a fun plate system, ensuring children with dietary, or food allergies have their personal needs met. n Staff report great well-being and praise the support they have from the manager. The manager is passionate about continuously improving the club together with the staff team. She ensures staff maintain secure safeguarding knowledge and most staff hold a paediatric first-aid certificate. Staff know the children in their care remarkably well. They are vigilant when children are not feeling themselves and act appropriately and with empathy to ensure their well- being. n Children develop healthy food choices and lifestyles. They show they have a good understanding of hygiene routines when washing their hands independently before eating. Younger children thrive from the endless opportunities available to them to become increasingly independent in learning

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need to do better?

new skills. At mealtimes, staff provide them with the right amount of support, and meaningful praise that empowers and successfully enables them to make their own sandwich like their older peers. n Parents are extremely complimentary about the dedicated staff and excellent care their children receive at the club. They appreciate daily face-to-face communication and report on how flexible and accommodating staff are such as enabling children to attend the setting after their extra-curricular activities at the link school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY316911 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10316858 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Out-of-school day care

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inspection

Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 120 Name of registered person Sims, Gillian Alayne

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reference number

Telephone number 07963614425 Date of previous inspection 23 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Hopscotch Kids Club registered in 2005. The club employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 or above. The club opens Monday to Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 7.45am to 8.50am and from 3.15pm to 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 discusses the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation. n The manager and the inspector completed a tour of the club both indoors and outdoors to understand how the club is organised. Additionally, the manager showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure they are safe and suitable. n The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact these have on children's experience at the club. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. The inspector spoke with parents during the inspection and took account of their views, expressed in written questionnaires. n The inspector spoke to teachers at the host school and held a meeting with the manager and discussed self-evaluation. The inspector looked at relevant

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Inspection activities

documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the club and a selection of other records.

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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 February 2024 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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