Funfishers Out of School Club

In December 2022, ice experiments, balancing beams and practical independence gave Funfishers Out of School Club a recognisable early-years character. Its name tells only part of the story: alongside older children, younger children were learning to walk, communicate and manage everyday tasks in December 2022. This is provision with an early-years educational role, rather than simply somewhere to spend time outside school hours.

At its 9 December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Outstanding overall. Funfishers has capacity for 38 children in total and is based in Fishergate, York. That whole-setting figure should not be read as the number of children sharing an activity or room.

The strongest practical detail is the connection between learning and ordinary experiences. In December 2022, water left outside overnight became an experiment, lunch became a chance to practise self-care, and songs supported language development. Those examples give parents a clearer picture than the grade alone.

In December 2022, younger children practised moving between carefully positioned furniture, while toddlers tested their balance using crates and wooden beams. These were different physical challenges for different stages of development. The furniture supported emerging walking; the beams and crates gave more mobile children opportunities to practise steadiness.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the December 2022 examples showed learning through play and everyday routines: exploring materials, talking about experiences and practising physical skills.

Experiments made changes in the natural world tangible. Children held ice and watched it melt, then put water-filled containers outside overnight to investigate what happened. Making a prediction and seeing the result gave them something concrete to discuss. The activity connected language with observation rather than treating them as separate tasks.

Speech and language also received deliberate attention in December 2022. Staff had undertaken additional training and adjusted their teaching, using stories, songs, repeated sounds and clear speech. These approaches gave children repeated opportunities to hear words and join in.

Books and singing also supported learning about different cultures. During that same period, staff used words from children's home languages and explored celebrations relevant to children and their friends. This brought children's family experiences into shared activities.

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, SEND support outstanding and children's progress exceptional, with assessments informing targeted help and staff working with families and education and health professionals. These are dated judgements, rather than assurances about present-day practice.

In December 2022, settling began with information gathered before a child started. Children already attending invited newcomers into play, and new children quickly learnt others' names. That combination connected staff preparation with the social experience of joining a group: adults knew something about the child, and other children helped them participate.

Emotional language had a place in the day too. In December 2022, drawing faces prompted conversations about happiness, while small-group activities helped children explore feelings. Parents weighing the setting's approach to care have a concrete example of how feelings were discussed through an ordinary creative activity.

Independence was taught in manageable stages. At that time, younger children helped themselves to vegetables and cleaned their hands and faces after lunch; older children dealt with leftovers and put plates together. Expectations changed with children's development, turning a daily routine into practice in looking after themselves.

Family communication extended beyond conversations in December 2022. Staff offered books and activities to take home, giving parents practical ways to continue experiences outside the setting. The SEND coordinator also helped staff arrange early, targeted support, alongside collaboration with families and other professionals.

Funfishers is at Fishergate, York, YO10 4AP, with contact by telephone on 01904 677870 or email at funfishers@aol.com. In December 2022, it operated from a building within Fishergate Primary School's playground.

At that date, the setting operated throughout the year on weekdays, with session times of 7.30am to 6pm. These describe the December 2022 arrangements. The children attending then were aged 1 to 11, spanning early-years care and provision for older children.

In December 2022, Funfishers provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

The school-site setting has an important admissions distinction: attending Funfishers does not guarantee a Reception place at Fishergate Primary School. Families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Early-years care within a wider-age setting. Children attending in December 2022 ranged from 1 to 11. At a visit, ask how the current age groups, spaces and attendance arrangements would work for your child.
• School-site expectations. The December 2022 setting occupied a building in Fishergate Primary School's playground. Treat childcare and Reception applications as separate decisions; attendance does not secure a school place.
• A dated quality judgement. The Outstanding grade dates to December 2022. Use the detailed examples of settling, language activities and practical independence to shape what you look for when assessing the setting today.

Funfishers will appeal to families interested in an early-years setting with a wider-age childcare role. Its December 2022 provision combined practical exploration with deliberate language work and everyday independence. The strongest reasons to consider it are those concrete experiences and the dated Outstanding judgement. The school-site location is useful context, but carries no promise of a Reception place.