22/08/2024

Proud to announce: Ofsted visits and top ratings

As we start to wrap up another incredible summer at Barracudas Camps, we're delighted to share some fantastic news regarding our recent Ofsted visits. This summer, we welcomed Ofsted inspectors to several of our camps, where they closely observed our operations, engaged with our team, and interacted with the children who attended our camps. We're proud to announce our camps received the highest available rating of "Met" during these inspections!

Commitment to excellence

At Barracudas Camps, the safety, happiness, and development of your children are our top priorities. We're committed to providing a fun, secure, and enriching environment where kids can make the most of their school holidays. All our camps are Ofsted registered, which means they undergo regular checks and adhere to strict standards set by the regulatory body. These checks confirm our facilities, staff, and activities meet the high expectations that parents and guardians have when entrusting us with their children's care.

A history of high standards

It's worth noting that the landscape of Ofsted ratings for holiday childcare changed in 2019, moving from the more familiar categories of "Outstanding" to "Inadequate" to the current standards of "Met" or "Not Met." However, we are proud of our history, which boasts a greater number of "Outstanding" ratings than many comparable providers. This legacy of excellence has carried through to our current practices, as evidenced by the glowing feedback and "Met" ratings across our camps this summer.

Ofsted observations

While we eagerly await the detailed reports from Ofsted, we're thrilled to share some of the wonderful observations the inspectors made during their visits this summer:

Harlow

Visited on 30th July, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"Children are very excited to attend this stimulating and unique setting. They arrive very happy and eager to engage in a wide selection of fun and interesting activities.

Staff engage very well with the children. They are warm, caring and very supportive. They compliment children's success and achievements and encourage them to express their views and preferences. Staff also support children to be independent learners."

Maidstone

Visited on 30th July, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"Children are excited to come to camp to see their friends and take part in the exciting array of activities planned. Staff greet children and settle them into their base room when they arrive. They gather information about the children and take time to learn their names and likes. This helps to make sure that all children are confident and feel secure during their time at the camp.

Parent partnerships are strong. The management provides parents with a wealth of information before their children start at the camp. They have good communication links to keep parents informed about their child's care and activities they engage with throughout the day. Parents comment on the professional staff. Children state that staff are always happy and want to join in with activities."

Norwich

Visited on 30th July, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"Children are busy and happy during their time at the club. They are familiar with the daily routines, remembering to put their rubbish in the correct bins after snack and finding their group leader at the start of each activity session. Staff know children well. They make use of information from parents and notes on the club's registration tablet to learn about each child and their needs.

Children take part in a huge variety of engaging activities, such as energetic exercise and sport, crafts and tabletop games. Children talk about their favourite sessions, including modelling with clay, swimming and 'mini-Olympic' games. Children develop friendships and a sense of belonging at the club. They clap and cheer for their friends during sports activities."

Watford

Visited on 30th July, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"Children enter the club happily and feel welcomed. They know where to put their things, and chat to staff who greet them warmly. Children enjoy taking part in lively sports activities, as staff set up a mini Olympics.

Parents report that they are very happy with the care that their children receive at the camp. They always feel that their children have interesting things to do, and that they always seem happy when they collect them. They appreciate the consistency in staffing at the camp, and that they see staff they recognise."

Barnet

Visited on 31st July, 2024. Rating: Met.

"Leaders and staff consistently implement the club procedures and routines to create a safe and welcoming environment for children. They gather detailed information from parents before children start, to help them cater for each child's individual needs. Staff offer a wide variety of experiences for children, which broaden their knowledge and skills and complement their learning at school.

Leaders and staff establish good relationships with parents. They listen to their views and work hard to keep them informed about their children's time at the club. Parents speak highly of the service and say their children thoroughly enjoy attending. Children also speak positively about the club."

Horsham

Visited on 31st July, 2024. Rating: Met.

"Children of all ages are keen to arrive at the exciting holiday club. Staff support children as soon as they arrive to ensure that children feel welcomed and safe. Staff create an extremely positive environment. They play alongside the children and encourage them to persevere in activities and try new things.

A key strength of the club is staff's overall attitude and practice towards children's safety. There are stringent recruitment and induction procedures in place and staff have a strong awareness of how to keep children safe and free from harm."

St Albans

Visited on 31st July, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"Children arrive at the club with enthusiasm and keen to find out from staff what their day will entail. Staff provide them with a warm welcome and encourage them to place their name on the self-registration board in their base room. The club offers a diverse range of adult-led sport activities and experiences each week, such as archery, go-karting, fencing, and team ball games. These support children's physical development.

Parents are complimentary about the provision the club provides. They appreciate the high level of communication they receive, not only about their individual children's experiences but also improvements to procedures. Parents comment how their children are excited to attend and describe staff as 'diligent' and 'friendly'."

Bedford

Visited on 1st August, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"Staff and 'Billy the Barracuda', the camp mascot, warmly welcome children on their arrival. Children quickly settle, make new friends, and behave well. They become engaged in the activities provided and have lots of fun.

The provider, management and staff strive to provide a safe environment and a wide range of activities for the children to enjoy during the school holidays."

Godalming

Visited on 1st August, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"Children settle well. They arrive at the club with enthusiasm and show they have good relationships with staff. Staff ignite children's imagination as they create dens on a woodland walk. Staff interact well with children.

Partnership with parents is strong. Staff share a wealth of information with parents. As such, parents are complimentary about the consistency of the staff and how they know their children well. They say that this helps their children quickly settle into their days at the club."

Andover

Visited on 2nd August, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"Children demonstrate they are keen to start their day at the enjoyable and exciting holiday club. The friendly and enthusiastic staff greet children and families warmly on arrival and quickly lead them to their key-person groups.

Children develop confidence to make choices. Staff provide consistent opportunities for them to choose from a rich variety of entertaining and enjoyable activities, such as 'barracudas got talent', dance, craft, and activities that promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Children develop secure friendships during their time at the club."

Colchester

Visited on 15th August, 2024. Rating: Met. 

"The enthusiastic and dedicated team of staff happily greet children on arrival. They are welcomed into a very well-organised holiday club that is designed to offer children a broad range of exciting and fun experiences. Children eagerly arrive and are keen to start their day.

Staff are calm and nurturing and are good role models. Children's behaviour is very good. They are confident and settled."

These comments affirm the dedication, passion, and professionalism of our staff, who work tirelessly to ensure that every child has a safe and memorable experience at Barracudas Camps.

Closing summer 2024

As we begin to close our camps for the summer, we can't help to be proud of the experiences we've delivered to thousands of children over the past few months. From the friendships formed to the skills developed, from the laughter shared to the new activities tried, it's been a summer to remember. Our camps have kept kids active, engaged, and smiling throughout the long break, providing a vital service to families and a joyful experience for all involved.

We can't wait to welcome your children back next year for even more fun, learning, and adventure. Thank you for trusting Barracudas Camps with your children's holiday care—here's to many more summers of excellence!