The Ark After School Club

Inspection of The Ark After School Club St Bede C of E Primary School, Gordon Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 7DD

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This provision meets requirements

n Staff organise a range of activities that they intend all children in the early years age group to access. Activities include arts and crafts, such as painting and moulding clay, reading and construction. Activities outside include parachute games, stilt walking and bat and ball to name a few. Such activities support children's physical development and health by keeping them active and involved. Staffing levels are high, which ensures that children are fully supervised and supported to engage with the activities on offer. n Leaders communicate well with parents. When young children start school, new parents are given the opportunity to visit the club for stay-and-play sessions. Parents also complete 'All About Me' forms so that staff can quickly develop an understanding of each child. Leaders work closely with class teachers to further their knowledge about each child. In addition, every early years child is assigned

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This provision meets requirements

a key person, who they will get to know well. This continuity of care between the school and the club helps to support the specific needs of the children of Reception age. n Staff communicate very effectively with each other. Every adult carries a walkie- talkie with a hands-free earpiece and microphone. This allows staff to instantly share important information with the whole team. For example, adults alert each other when parents arrive or if children are leaving the main hall for the outside area. Therefore, adults can make sure that the required number of staff are present to monitor children's safety in all areas of the club. n There is a strong focus on healthy eating. Adults provide children with a diverse range of healthy snacks to choose from. They support children to think about appropriate portion sizes, such as when using spread on their rice cakes. This helps children to make healthy choices about their food.

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This provision meets requirements

n Managers arrange snack time so that children can sit and eat with their year group around large tables. As they eat, staff sit and talk with children to find out what they have done that day. This supports children's social and communication skills and helps staff to build and maintain positive relationships with the children. n Managers make information available to all staff about children who have specific dietary needs. Children who have food allergies or intolerances have colour-coded plates and personal cutlery, which is stored separately. Staff sit near children to ensure that they do not eat food that is harmful to them. This helps to keep all children safe during mealtimes. n There is strong support for staff who are new to the club. They receive an induction, which includes specific safeguarding and behaviour management training. New staff feel welcomed and quickly establish themselves with the

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This provision meets requirements

children. Staff say they are well supported by managers. There is also effective supervision in place for the managers, who feel listened to and supported by the dedicated committee. As a result, staff well-being is high, and adults are consistently upbeat and engaging. n Managers make regular informal observations of staff practice and explore areas

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This provision meets requirements

10 September 2024 for development in termly supervision sessions. Managers welcome staff's input and feedback on their professional development. Recent training to better understand children's behaviour has helped staff to think differently about how children respond to certain situations. This promotes high-quality interactions between adults and children. n Staff understand their obligations to keep children safe. There are procedures in place should staff have concerns about the welfare of a child. Staff know how to respond in a range of safeguarding scenarios, including if a child has an accident or an injury while at the club. Leaders ensure that staff's safeguarding training is up to date, for example through refresher training at whole-team sessions. As a result, staff are able to keep children safe and secure during their time at the club.

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This provision meets requirements

There were no children in the early years age range present when this inspection took place. The findings in this report are based on evidence gathered from discussions with those who care for the children and an inspection of the premises, equipment and relevant documentation. Where there are no early years children present, no judgement is made on the quality of the early years provision as there is no reliable evidence on which to assess its impact on children. The report states whether the provider continues to meet the requirements of registration.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY281515 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10354911 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 90 Number of children on roll 181 Name of registered person The Ark After School Club

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reference number

Telephone number 07749625017 Date of previous inspection 12 November 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Ark After School Club registered in 2004. It operates from St Bede's Church of England Primary School, Winchester. The club operates from Monday to Friday, term time only. Before school, sessions are from 7.30am to 8.45am. After-school sessions are from 3.20pm to 6pm. There are 26 members of staff. Of these, four hold relevant qualifications.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with managers about the operation of the club. n Although there were no children in the early years age group present at the time of this inspection, there were children present who were over the age of five years. Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at 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

10 September 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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