Sapling Childcare - Little Willows

Inspection of Sapling Childcare - Little Willows St. Johns C of E Combined School, Main Road, Lacey Green, PRINCES RISBOROUGH, Buckinghamshire HP27 0PL

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This provision meets requirements

Children enjoy this warm, welcoming club that is safe and secure. Kind staff sensitively help children to settle, particularly the youngest and those new to the club. Staff ensure that the club is fun and engaging with a wide range of planned activities inside and outside. Children that delight in arts and crafts consistently have free access to resources to support this. Staff display pieces of work and create folders for the children to keep their work in, ready to take home at the end of each term. Seeing these, children feel a real sense of achievement and pride when coming to the club each day.

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This provision meets requirements

Staff support children to learn new skills. They sit with children and help them to plait doll's hair and to throw and catch small balls with accuracy. When parents arrive, children talk keenly of their achievements and relish in sharing their accomplishments.

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This provision meets requirements

Behaviour expectations at the club are high. Children benefit from the consistent boundaries set by staff, and they know the routines well. Staff act as excellent role models and swiftly support children to negotiate any challenges that arise. Subsequently, children feel cared for, respected and demonstrate kindness and consideration for all around them. They look after the club's resources, listen to adults attentively and happily share with friends. The needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are met well. Staff ensure that break out spaces are available for children when they need them, as well as separate, specific resources being assigned to help individual children regulate their behaviour when they feel overwhelmed.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are clear about their vision for the club. They feel strongly that children should be respectful and considerate of others. Staff implement this effectively, and children behave well. Children are polite and use manners with their peers and adults alike. Children show consideration for others and are readily seen lending friends a helping hand. For instance, children help each other to create dens, tying knots and creating sheltered, shaded areas in which to play. n Staff take time to get to know the children well and form strong bonds with them. Adults ensure that the activities on offer consider children's interests and stages of development. They arrange the areas and resources accessed by children carefully to help those with differing ages to become engrossed in their play. For example, staff create zoned areas that allow children to work in small groups collaboratively. Children's models made with construction materials are

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need to do better?

kept for them to continue building the following day. Children find this reassuring

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need to do better?

7 July 2025 and feel that their work and efforts are appreciated. n Children talk confidently about their favourite club activities. They state that staff are kind to them and listen to them attentively. Children appreciate being given opportunities to plan for future club events using the activities board. Children feel a real sense of belonging at the club. n Staff encourage children to spend time outside in the fresh air. They set up activities, such as footballs and goals and tennis themed resources, to encourage children to be physically active. Staff provide a wide variety of healthy and nutritious food options for mealtimes. They help children to learn the importance of washing their hands effectively before eating. Children's healthy lifestyles are promoted well. n Children's independence skills are generally supported well. Children know where they should put their belongings and do so neatly. Staff expect children to tidy

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need to do better?

up resources before they move on to subsequent activities, and children do this willingly. However, on occasion, staff complete tasks for children that they could do for themselves, such as serving themselves at mealtimes and persisting without assistance when faced with more challenging tasks. This means children's independence skills are not fully promoted. n Good working relationships with the host school are in place. Reception and Year 1 teachers hand over any relevant information after the school day to ensure key messages are shared about individual children. n The environment is safe and secure. Staff conduct regular checks to ensure that children's safety is assured. Staff help children to understand potential risks and how to manage them. For example, staff place cones around activities such as swingball and explain to children that this area is clear to keep them from being hit by the racquets or ball. This gives children a good grounding in assessing

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need to do better?

their own risks and problem-solving. n Parents speak highly of the club. They praise the work that the staff do and the care they provide for their children. Staff communicate effectively with parents about the activities their children enjoy taking part in and keep them informed about any successes or concerns that may arise.

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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 EY544509 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10399030 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 26 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Crook, Lorna May

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reference number

Telephone number 07803 415695 Date of previous inspection 18 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Saplings Childcare - Little Willows registered in 2017. It operates from St John's Church of England (VA) Combined School in Lacey Green, Buckinghamshire. It is open 7.45am to 8.45am and 3.15pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only. The provider employs four members of staff.

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Inspection activities

n The provider showed the inspector the premises and discussed how she ensures that they are safe and suitable. n The inspector considered the views of parents through written and verbal feedback. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector sampled relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working with children at the club. n The inspector and nominated individual held discussions about the leadership and management of the setting.

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Inspection activities

7 July 2025 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

7 July 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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