Barracudas - Ely

Inspection of Barracudas - Ely Ely College, Downham Road, Ely CB6 2SH

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This provision meets requirements

Children enjoy their time at the camp. Staff enthusiastically guide children during a wide variety of sporting and craft activities. Young children spend time in their group room, allowing time to rest and relax. They listen to stories about teeth and join in a conversation with staff about why it is important to brush their teeth. Children make choices about the activities they join in. For example, while some children find butterflies and leaves on a nature walk, others choose a different activity.

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This provision meets requirements

Children feel valued. At the beginning of the camp, children decide the rules they think are important. Staff display these on the wall. If necessary, they gently remind children of particular rules, helping to promote positive and considerate behaviour. Children confidently explain the rules to new people, helping to demonstrate their understanding of why they are important. This includes rules around safety during particular activities. This allows children opportunities to manage age-appropriate risks, supporting their personal development.

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need to do better?

n Children make new friends at the camp. They recall the names of others they met in the previous year and look forward to meeting them again. Staff encourage children to work together to solve problems. For example, they work out how to construct mini dens and forts. Through this, children learn to collaborate and to negotiate with peers. This helps to strengthen their social and personal skills and build on their confidence. n Interactions between staff and children are positive. Staff take time to listen to children and take their views into consideration. Children know how to identify staff, looking for their coloured shirts and lanyards. They quickly learn they can share any worries or concerns they might have about the activities with staff, helping them feel settled and secure. n Partnerships with parents are good. Before children attend the camp for the first time, parents share key information about what their child likes, any medical

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need to do better?

needs, including allergies, and any information about their emotional resilience that may have an impact on their positive time in the club. Any additional support that individual children might need is planned in partnership with parents. The provider ensures the right level of staffing is in place. This contributes to the effective support given to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The provider ensures all staff complete a suitable induction to help them support children in the camp effectively. Staff quickly familiarise themselves with key policies and procedures, such as fire evacuation, to help keep children safe. Staff

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need to do better?

30 July 2025 help to set the camp up before children arrive, raising their awareness of the resources, layout and organisation of the camp. This contributes to the good organisation and smooth running of the camp. Those assigned leadership roles, monitor the quality of the interactions, care and experiences children gain to help inform any adaptations or improvements. As a result, parents confidently report they happily enrol their children into the camp year on year. n Children who speak English as an additional language are sensitively supported. Staff show children visual timetables and find out words in the language they speak at home to help them understand important routines and rules. As a result, children quickly settle and feel involved in the camp.

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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 2723389 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10388733 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 120 Number of children on roll 212 Name of registered person Young World Leisure Group Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01480467567 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Barracudas - Ely registered in 2023 and operates from Ely College, Ely, Cambridgeshire. The camp opens Monday to Friday, between 8.30am and 5.30pm during the school summer holidays. Arrangements can be made for early drop off from 8am and late pick up at 6pm. The camp employs 17 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold relevant qualifications at level 3 or above.

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Inspection activities

n The area manager took the inspector on a learning walk around the camp. They discussed the variety of activities provided and the use of base rooms for different age groups. n The inspector observed activities and spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with members of the leadership team. n The inspector looked at some documentation, including the evidence of the checks of suitability for staff and information gathered from parents upon enrolment. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents and read reviews from the previous year's camp.

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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

30 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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