Barracudas

Inspection of Barracudas Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans AL4 9NX

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This provision meets requirements

Children arrive at the club with enthusiasm and keen to find out from staff what their day will entail. Staff provide them with a warm welcome and encourage them to place their name on the self-registration board in their base room. Children are confident and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They enjoy talking to the inspector and sharing their achievements with them. Staff are positive role models. They consistently use good manners when speaking to children and encourage children to do the same. Staff provide children with meaningful praise when they have tried hard at a task that they find tricky, such as using scissors to cut out shapes from felt. This helps children develop pride and the motivation they need to keep trying. Staff capture children's attention as they read stories with enthusiasm and good intonation. They make this an interactive experience and value what children say in response to their effective use of questions. This encourages

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This provision meets requirements

children to predict what might happen next and triggers their inquisitiveness. They ask enquiring questions, such as 'What is a jockey?'

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This provision meets requirements

Children demonstrate good independent skills. They consistently follow good hygiene practices with minimal support and staff encourage them to be responsible for their personal belongings. Staff make transitions around different areas of the club fun. Mealtimes are a social occasion. Children laugh and talk about the activities they have enjoyed with their new friends and staff.

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need to do better?

n Good working relationships are in place with the host school. Leaders and staff communicate with them to improve the organisation of daily routines, such as access to additional toilet and handwashing facilities to ease overcrowding prior to snack and mealtimes. Children benefit from swimming lessons at the school's on-site swimming pool. These sessions are led by a qualified swimming instructor and lifeguard, and are supported by additional staff members for increased supervision. n Experienced leaders and managers are committed to supporting staff's professional growth. They prioritise opportunities for staff progression within the club. Leaders regularly observe staff practice to identify areas for development, and additional training is provided as needed. This approach ensures that staff have the skills and confidence necessary to support children effectively. Recent training has had a positive impact on developing children's independence at

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need to do better?

snack time. n Staff share the club agreements with children to help support positive behaviour. Staff calmly stop minor disagreements between children. However, when doing so they do not provide children with clear explanations of why their behaviour

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need to do better?

31 July 2024 does not align with the club agreements. This means that children do not receive clear messages about what is right and wrong. Despite this, children begin to make new friendships as they socialise with children who attend from the wider community. n Children's safety is paramount. The system in place for the hand over and collection arrangements of children is robust. This ensures that children are consistently accounted for and only collected by individuals who are authorised to do so. Staff supervise children well in all areas of the club. They use walkie- talkies to communicate with one another, ensuring children are always within sight. n The club offers a diverse range of adult-led sport activities and experiences each week, such as archery, go-karting, fencing, and team ball games. These support children's physical development. However, when children choose not to participate, staff do not consider offering alternative activities to maintain their

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need to do better?

engagement. Nevertheless, children eagerly participate in explore and play sessions. Staff promote children's understanding of a healthy balanced diet. Children enjoy using a rich range of craft materials to create a healthy meal. They are highly imaginative as they design 'special' fruit by twisting different coloured pipe cleaners together and show a strong sense of pride in their achievements. n Staff work in partnership with parents to gather detailed information about their children's individual needs. This information is shared with their key person and other staff to ensure that their needs are consistently met. Children also share their interests, likes and dislikes with staff through drawings on individual pieces of bunting, which is beautifully displayed along with their peers in their base rooms. This helps to provide children with a strong sense of belonging. n Children's emotional well-being is thoroughly supported. Staff complete frequent

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need to do better?

welfare checks throughout the day. They encourage children to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and make sure they are shielded from the sun as much as possible on warm days. n Parents are complimentary about the provision the club provides. They appreciate the high level of communication they receive, not only about their individual children's experiences but also improvements to procedures. Parents comment how their children are excited to attend and describe staff as 'diligent' and 'friendly'.

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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 EY501134 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10344278 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 200 Number of children on roll 671 Name of registered person Young World Leisure Group Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01480 467 567 Date of previous inspection 16 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Barracudas registered in 2016 and is independently run. The club employs 34 members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 or above. The club opens from Monday to Friday during school holiday periods, excluding bank holidays. Sessions are from 8am 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 lead area manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The lead area manager showed the inspector the areas of the school that the club operates from and discussed how they ensure they are safe and suitable. n The early years manager completed a joint observation with the inspector and discussed their findings. n The inspector held discussions with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day. n The inspector observed interactions between the staff and children during activities, both indoors and outdoors. n The inspector held a meeting with the lead area manager and early years manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the club.

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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

31 July 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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