The Holiday Club

Inspection of The Holiday Club Calton Junior School, Calton Road, Gloucester GL1 5ET

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This provision meets requirements

Friendly staff welcome the children with open arms and big smiles. The children enter the energetic holiday club excited and eager to see their friends. They become deeply engaged in their chosen activities, such as building with objects out of small plastic bricks. The children demonstrate that they have built strong relationships with both their peers and the staff, which allows them to feel safe and secure. Staff consistently provide the children with plenty of praise and encouragement, which helps to build their confidence and self-esteem.

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This provision meets requirements

Staff engage with children in their play, promoting children's imagination and creativity. Children work together to dig a big hole in the dirt using spades. They decide to create a Viking ship. Staff ask the children questions about where they will go on the ship. Children share past experiences of being on a boat and where they have been on holiday. They talk about where they will go on the ship and the things they might discover. Staff listen to the children's thoughts and ideas. They repeat words back to the children correctly and introduce new vocabulary, which strengthens their communication and language skills.

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This provision meets requirements

Children show high levels of confidence communicating with staff and their peers. Older children's feedback is that they enjoy coming to the holiday club, where they get to have lots of fun and see their friends. They particularly like going on the playing field to pick the blackberries and visiting the local shop with staff.

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need to do better?

n Staff encourage the children to participate in a wide range of activities that support their physical development. Children play football in teams and race around on skateboards. Staff support them to stay safe by offering gentle reminders and reinforcing the rules of the club. Children show patience as they line up and wait to have a go at archery. They pull back the string on the bow and aim their plastic arrow at the target board. Young children throw beanbags into the air, trying to see how many they can get into the baskets. Children spend lots of time outside in the fresh air having fun, which promotes their health and well-being. n Children enjoy participating in a range of games and activities aimed at supporting their critical thinking skills. Staff set up a group quiz game. They place letters around the playground. Staff give the children instructions and multiple-choice questions. The children run to the answer they feel is right.

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need to do better?

Older children help younger children, as well as those with special educational needs and/ or disabilities. They all laugh as they look around the playground at their peers' decisions and praise those who got it right.

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need to do better?

15 April 2025 n The passionate staff state that they enjoy their jobs and feel valued by the management team. They have the opportunity to highlight their professional development goals, receive feedback on their practice and complete regular training online. New staff undergo an induction process to fully understand their roles and responsibilities. The team regularly reviews their provision and identifies areas for improvement. They recently introduced a timer and time limits for children using electronic devices to reduce screen time and encourage physical activity. n Parents receive detailed feedback about their child's day and appreciate the club's engaging activities. Staff use information from parents to plan activities that meet children's individual needs and interests. They prioritise building strong connections with families and schools to ensure consistent care. Parents of children with additional needs praise the supportive and friendly staff,

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need to do better?

fostering a trusting partnership. n The staff create a fun and inclusive environment for the children. They work well together as a team and act as positive role models. Staff listen and support the children when they become upset or frustrated, empathising with them and helping them through challenging situations. Younger children learn to resolve conflicts independently, sharing resources and playing well alongside each other.

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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 EY479781 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10392437 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 50 Number of children on roll 104 Name of registered person Daly, Victoria Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 01452304636 07894354756 Date of previous inspection 22 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The Holiday Club re-registered in 2014. It is located in Calton Junior School, in Gloucester. The club is open each weekday from 7.30am to 8.40pm and 3pm to 6pm during term time, and from 7.30am until 6pm during the holidays. The club employs eight members of staff. Of these, two have an early years qualification at level 2. The provider, who is also the manager, holds a qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed staff practice and children's experiences across a variety of activities. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team to discuss how they self-evaluate the provision. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection. n Children spoke and engaged with the inspector during the inspection.

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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

15 April 2025 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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