Castle Holiday Club At Finstall

Inspection of Castle Holiday Club At Finstall Finstall First School, Carnforth Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 2HS

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This provision does not meet requirements

Leaders have not identified weaknesses related to risk assessment and do not identify all hazards to children. New staff do not receive the required training as part of their induction to ensure they have all the information they need to keep children safe. The supervision arrangements of children are not effective, and staff are not always aware of what children are doing or where they are. These weaknesses put children's safety at risk.

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This provision does not meet requirements

This said, children arrive happily at the club and enjoy the time they spend there. Staff organise the play environment well with a wide range of engaging activities, especially indoors. Staff recognise that children have a strong interest in being creative and plan an interesting selection of activities to support this. This includes junk modelling, role play and crafts. Children set themselves a challenge to link mini elastic bands together to create a chain that reaches across the hall. Staff set clear boundaries for children, and children behave well. They know that when they play with the scooters outdoors, they must remain in the coned-off area. They keep ball games to the designated area of the playground.

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need to do better?

n Leaders' self-evaluation has not been effective in identifying breaches in staff practice. They provide new staff with a basic induction, which includes viewing the safeguarding policies. However, they do not ensure that new staff receive training related to the actions they must take in the event of a fire. This puts children at risk and is a breach of the requirements. n Leaders fail to ensure that risk assessment arrangements are rigorous. Cleaning products and insect repellent are in sight and reach of children in the kitchen area. The kitchen is always fully accessible to children, including when they are unsupervised and walk through the area to go to the cloakroom and toilets. This exposes children to potential harm. n Staffing arrangements meet the legal requirements. However, staff do not always supervise children well enough to ensure their safety. They do not supervise all children while they are eating breakfast. Children frequently leave

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need to do better?

the play area and enter the kitchen, cloakroom and toilets without staff being aware. Although there is a policy where children can access the setting's gaming equipment for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time, this is not implemented effectively. Staff do not notice that some children remain on this equipment for the whole morning. n All long-term staff are currently completing a course specifically related to playwork in out-of-school provision. However, leaders do not monitor staff practice rigorously enough to ensure that all staff understand their

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need to do better?

17 April 2025 responsibilities. This has a negative impact on children's safety while they are at the club. n An effective key-person system is in place, and leaders ensure that at the start of each holiday, children's information is updated. This helps to keep all information relating to children current. Parents share how they receive lots of communication about their children's day. At the start of each holiday, they receive emails about the arrangements for the upcoming holiday club. n Indoors, staff set up the play areas in zones that reflect the seven areas of learning and complement children's experiences in school. Children practise their scissor control skills and enjoy opportunities for reading, writing and drawing. Board games and regular games of bingo promote children's mathematical and listening skills. Children are interested in the activities provided. n Staff listen to children's views and have a flexible approach to activities indoors

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need to do better?

and outdoors. They follow children's interests well. Children benefit from plenty of opportunities to be physically active, and staff organise a range of sporting activities outdoors. Children enjoy friendly competition in team relay games. They concentrate to improve their skills during target games, such as basketball and football. Staff ensure that drinking water is always available and remind children to stay hydrated. n Staff know the children well and implement effective strategies to help them to manage their feelings and behaviour. They understand potential triggers and how to best support individual children to manage their emotions.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

ensure that all staff receive induction training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities with particular regard to information about emergency evacuation procedures 17/05/2025

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Due date

improve risk assessments to ensure that children in their care are not exposed to risks 17/05/2025

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Due date

17 April 2025 ensure that children are adequately supervised, including whilst eating 17/05/2025

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Due date

monitor staff and arrangements at the club to gain an accurate insight into the strengths and weaknesses to improve practices. 17/05/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY369895 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 10392202 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 60 Number of children on roll 106 Name of registered person Castle Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07977 028 088 Date of previous inspection 9 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Castle Holiday Club At Finstall registered in 2008. It operates from Finstall First School in Bromsgrove. The club employs 11 members of childcare staff, seven of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 3. The club is open from Monday to Friday, during school holidays. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at holiday club. n The manager and the inspector discussed how they organise their early years provision. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual/registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with a manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the 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

17 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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