Club Excel Leisure @ The Priory School

Club Excel Leisure @ The Priory School

Unique reference number (URN): 2787266 Address: The Priory School, Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 2UR Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 23/04/2024 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Club Excel Leisure Limited

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Leaders have created clear behavioural expectations throughout the club that fully support all children feeling able to participate in activities and have a lovely experience. Parents and carers are made aware of the camp rules to ensure that children benefit from a consistent approach. Staff ensure that children are aware of the age-appropriate routines and boundaries by discussing them in group time daily. Children respond well to this and listen carefully to instructions. Embedded routines give children a sense of security that supports engagement and good behaviour.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Children develop warm and respectful relationships with staff, who model calm and positive behaviour. As a result, children listen carefully to their guidance and behave well. They show positive attitudes and sustain engagement with activities. Staff use gentle reminders to children, such as indoors we walk, which supports children's understanding of keeping themselves and others safe. Staff help children understand how to share space and to respect each other. For example, they talk about using 'kind hands', when playing with each other. Children learn to take turns when playing games. Older children clearly recap the rules for using the inflatables before they get on.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Leaders promote the importance of regular attendance and timekeeping. This helps children to feel secure and develop confidence in becoming familiar with the daily routines. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the club and the exciting opportunities help to support their desire to return.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Leaders highly prioritise children's welfare and wellbeing. This is well embedded and consistent throughout the club. They ensure that policies and practices are reviewed and adapted as necessary. Staff have a detailed handover with parents as children are dropped off. They gather information about the children's independence in personal care and permission to support children in applying sunscreen. The key person role is extremely well established, and children and parents are aware of who their key person is. However, all staff are equally nurturing and approachable to the children. This means that staff are highly responsive to the changing circumstances of individual children and families.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Children have opportunities throughout the day for activities that promote physical development, such as playing games outdoors or using the large inflatables indoors. They also have opportunities to rest and relax, such as book corners and dens.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Staff form responsive and secure attachments with children. Children enjoy talking to them and chat happily explaining what they are drawing or doing. They clearly feel safe and demonstrate pleasure when staff praise them for their efforts and achievements.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Children learn positive hygiene skills that are embedded in the daily routines. For example, they wash hands before eating. Staff promote a healthy lifestyle. They discuss what healthy food is and how it supports bodies. They encourage children to eat savoury options first from their lunch boxes and they send parents ideas for healthy options.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders have established an inclusive and positive culture, where staff identify and understand children's individual needs early and very well. Embedded systems are highly effective and have a hugely positive impact on children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or other barriers to wellbeing. For example, leaders gather detailed information before children attend, including medical, dietary and their likes and dislikes. Where support and adjustments are needed, they contact parents and carers for more detailed information. They discuss children's strengths alongside areas of challenge. As a result, children's individuality is celebrated. Leaders are then able to understand and address any potential barriers to participation and wellbeing. This means that support is planned in advance rather than introduced after difficulties arise. This information is shared with the key person and other staff to ensure that children feel safe and welcomed from the

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Inclusion Strong standard

Staff are adept at differentiating activities to ensure all children can participate. This means that children can take part at their own pace without pressure. When children choose not to join a group activity they are supported to choose alternatives. A higher than necessary ratio of staff to children enables children to receive individual support on the occasions it is needed. Children have opportunities and safe spaces to withdraw from larger groups if they wish.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Where possible, leaders work closely with other organisations, such as schools and the local authority, to fully support consistency of care and enable all children to have access to the fun experiences at the club.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

Leaders are extremely dedicated to providing the best care for children. They have a clear vision for the club and consistently embed high standards. They are highly reflective and where they can see improvement possibilities, act on feedback from staff, parents and children. For example, they now offer activities based around a weekly theme, which means that resources can be rotated between clubs to ensure engaging and exciting activities throughout the length of the holidays. Leaders have started new programmes, such as computer coding, based on parental feedback. They recognise the importance of the club to families and are committed to inclusion, ensuring the club is as accessible to as many children as possible, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

Leaders are continually working towards improving the highly successful club and are currently creating an internal professional development system that offers staff the opportunity to take progressive courses. Currently, staff have opportunities to access professional development with some staff rising to management after starting as assistants. Staff wellbeing is high and staff feel highly valued in their roles. The club has a high retention rate with many staff returning each year. Leaders fully engage with parents, who state they appreciate the communication to ensure their child is happy and safe. They have a secure relationship with the host school.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children arrive to a warm, friendly and well-organised holiday club. They are greeted kindly by nurturing staff, who ensure that they feel safe and welcomed. Parents and carers feel reassured as staff inform them of the activities of the day and who will be caring for their

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About this setting

child. Children settle into familiar routines with a choice of activities. They are supported by staff who engage them with arts and crafts or other activities. Right from the start, children feel valued because staff ensure that they gain important information from parents about their likes and dislikes. Their individual needs are extremely well met because staff are observant and focused on ensuring all children have a wonderful time and feel happy and safe. Staff are quick to support those less confident or new to the club and ensure that they feel included.

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About this setting

Children enjoy a wide variety of activities based around a weekly theme. For example, children enjoy making alien headbands and firing rockets from launchers. They have opportunities for physical play, both outdoors and indoors on large inflatable equipment. They also have opportunities for calmer activities that help them to regulate their emotions, such as a sensory den. Children show enjoyment and sustained interest in their activities. They talk readily about what they are doing.

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About this setting

Children build positive and warm relationships with staff and each other. They play games together and spend time happily together. For example, children enjoy playing in the home corner. Children take turns and join in with shared experiences, gently supported by staff. For example, they excitedly wait for their turn to launch a rocket and compete to see whose can go the highest. Snack and mealtimes are sociable occasions and children learn about healthy choices. They talk about their favourite fruits and how they support their health.

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Next steps

Leaders should ensure continued improvement in the club's successful work to remove barriers for children who need extra help, to realise a transformational impact on all children's engagement and wellbeing.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, parents and children during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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. Unique reference number (URN): 2787266

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Address:

The Priory School Bedford Road Hitchin SG5 2UR

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Address:

Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Address:

Registered person: Club Excel Leisure Limited

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Address:

Operating hours: Monday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 08:30 - 17:30

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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.

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Urgent improvement

services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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

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