Ultimate Activity Camps At Dean Close School

Inspection of Ultimate Activity Camps At Dean Close School Dean Close Preparatory School, Lansdown Road, CHELTENHAM, Gloucestershire GL51 6QS

p.1

This provision meets requirements

Children enjoy their time at the camp. They separate from their parents with ease and are keen to enter and choose their activities, showing they feel safe and secure. Staff welcome the children, introduce them to others and ask them their news. Staff listen and show interest in what children have to say about their family time at Easter. Children show they are comfortable with the friendly staff and willingly share their news and engage in conversations. Children attend different schools and develop their social skills as they make friends with other children. They work together cooperatively, such as when building with construction bricks and sharing the pens when drawing their pictures.

p.2

This provision meets requirements

Staff organise a wide range of activities for the children that they show interest in and want to join in. Children have plenty of opportunities for physical games, such as treasure hunts, arts and crafts activities and free choice. Children enjoy listening to stories and are keen to talk about what is happening in the pictures. They ask questions and other children contribute to the answers, showing they are confident speaking in group situations.

p.2

This provision meets requirements

Children thoroughly enjoy joining in with outdoor games. They hunt for treasure and are keen to show staff the coloured cones they have found. In between the hunts, children play other games. They transform from a rock into different animals, such as frogs, dinosaurs, and giraffes. They move their bodies in various ways and negotiate space well.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff report that they feel supported by the head office team, who visit the camp on a weekly basis. They report that they receive feedback on their practice, and this helps them identify their strengths and areas for improvement. Staff say that they can seek advice from the head office team, such as for managing more challenging behaviour. They report that they have opportunities to develop their skills by working with different age groups, for example. n Children behave well overall, and any challenges are managed sensitively by staff. They help children learn right from wrong and to use their 'kind hands' and 'listening ears'. Staff help the children negotiate any minor disputes, make the right choices and praise children when they follow the rules, to support their self-esteem. n Children have lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills. They regularly participate in sports activities outside, such as football, mini tennis, dodge ball

p.2

need to do better?

and go swimming in the pool every other day. Staff help children learn about the importance of exercise.

p.2

need to do better?

2 April 2024 n Children bring their own snacks and lunches to the camp and their water bottles. Snack time is a sociable occasion when staff sit with the children and chat to them. Staff remind children to take their bottles outside, so they can have regular drinks. Children know they need to wash their hands prior to eating to 'wash off the germs'. n Staff receive induction and training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. They understand the safeguarding policies and procedures, including who to report child protection concerns to and they adhere to the mobile phone policy. Staff follow the risk assessments for specific activities and help children learn about the need to follow the rules to help themselves stay safe. n Partnerships with parents are positive. They report that their children enjoy coming to the camp and the activities provided. Parents say that communication

p.2

need to do better?

with staff is good and that they know what their children have done during the day. Staff work closely with parents to share information to meet children's specific individual needs. n Children say that they like coming to the camp. They report that they enjoy playing with their friends and particularly enjoy hopscotch and building with the construction materials.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY497876 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10311708 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 111 Name of registered person The Ultimate Activity Company Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 0330 111 7077 Date of previous inspection 6 April 2018

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Ultimate Activity Camps At Dean Close School registered in 2015. The club is based in Dean Close Preparatory School, Cheltenham. It offers care from 9am to 4.30pm from Monday to Friday, in the school holidays only. The camp also has an early drop off time of 8.30am and a late pick up time of 5.15pm. The camp has six members of staff. Of these, three have childcare qualifications, one at level 6 and two with qualified teacher status.

p.4

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 head of operations and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n Children spoke to the inspector about their time at the camp. n Parents shared their views about the camp with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The head of operations made some documents available for the inspector and had a leadership and management discussion. n The inspector observed the staff's interactions with the children during activities, indoors and outdoors. n The inspector viewed the premises used for childcare.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

2 April 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6