Young Inspector reports

Doodles of faces on a yellow post it

The ‘Young Inspectors Scheme” provides a voice for children who use the scheme to shape and develop the service.

How the Young Inspectors rate a Short Break session

The Young Inspectors reviewed the short breaks service based on the following areas and this is what the Young inspectors found

  • Fun and Enjoyment
    • Did you enjoy the session?
    • Was the activity fun?
    • Would you go again?
  • Safety
    • Were you told about safety?
    • Did you feel safe?
    • Were staff friendly and helpful?
  • Accessibility
    • Could someone in the wheelchair access this activity?
    • Was the session time suitable?
    • Was the session good value for money?

The Inspector then gives the area a rating out of 3 stars:

  • 1 star is bad
  • 2 stars is OK
  • 3 stars is good

An overall rating out of 3 stars is then given for the session as an average from all the inspectors.

What the Young Inspectors found

The activities and sessions below were reviewed in the last 12 months. 

John Cattles Skate Club

Skate sessions for 5 to 19 years of all abilities with qualified coaches. The session costs £5 and is 45 minutes with all equipment provided.

Overall rating of 3 stars.

All three of the young inspectors enjoyed the activity and were encouraged to progress in their skating ability, try new moves and build their confidence. They were supported by qualified instructors who moved around the group ensuring that they all had one to one time with an instructor. They all said that they would all attend this session again and would recommend it to everyone to come and try.
The young inspectors felt safe in the session and were given appropriate safety advice to keep safe as they skated. The staff were on hand to ensure that everyone was safe as they used the equipment and in keeping a safe distance between them. The inspectors all said that the staff were friendly and helpful and that they felt comfortable approaching them for assistance. There is a secure area for parents and siblings to watch the session and parents are welcome to go onto the ramps to support their child.
The venue is wheelchair accessible, and the staff are very patient and attentive to the individual needs of the children and young people. Due to an increase in interest in this session they have introduced an additional session at 12 noon. The inspectors felt that was a good time to skate on a Sunday and said that at £5 it was very good value for money.
"it was fun and that the staff were really nice"
"The staff at Skate Club are always so patient, knowledgeable and friendly. They are always willing to help and always share their time fairly amongst the group. The equipment is good quality and kept clean between lessons. We think it's great value for money and a very fun way for the kids to keep active!”
We are really glad that the young inspectors enjoyed their session with us, and for the positive feedback. Our short breaks sessions have become extremely popular resulting in us having to increase the number of sessions. We work hard at trying to ensure there are enough session places to go around, but still maintain the small group ethos and additional support, so we are very pleased that the feedback reflects these achievements. We look forward to seeing all our Short breaks groups continuing to progress and have fun in their skating throughout 2024

Scallywags Fun Club

Scallywags Fun Club provides a fun place to play and meet friends during the school holidays. It costs £10 for 3-hour session and caters for children and Young People age 3 to 18 years.

Overall rating of 2 stars

Two of the Young Inspectors really enjoyed the session and didn’t want to leave but the other two found the session too loud and probably would not go back. One of the parents said they would have brought their child’s ear defenders if they realised and the provider did have some but was not aware that the child was struggling with the noise level. One of the areas in the Chapel was out of use due to being used for the foodbank every Tuesday morning and with it raining the rooms were busy and louder than usual. There was a lot of different activities available including making and tossing pancakes, a competition, arts and crafts, computers and a wide range of toys and equipment. The children were able to choose what they did and were supported and supervised by staff in all areas.
All the Young Inspectors stated that they did not feel that they were given safety advice, but they all felt safe in the session. There is a main door with a high bolt at the entrance so children cannot leave unattended and anyone entering must buzz to be let in. The outdoor areas are fenced off and there is a good staff presence in all areas to supervise. The staff were seen to be very friendly and helpful and one of the inspectors added an additional star to her score for this. Sarah took them around for a guided tour and introduced all the staff to the children. The staff regularly checked in to ensure everyone was settled.
The Young Inspectors felt that the venue is accessible for a wheelchair user but with so many toys and activities in the rooms it may create obstacles to move around freely both in the rooms and between them. One of the inspectors said they would have preferred a later start time as it was too early for a school holiday. They felt it was good value priced at £10 for the session.
“It was great fun and I’d like to come again”
Our son really liked it and didn’t want to leave but it was too noisy for our 6 year old daughter who is struggling in noisy environments at the moment.
It was lovely to meet the young inspectors and invite them into our Short Breaks session. We like to ensure our sessions are accessible and fun for everyone. We recognise that the sessions can become quite loud at times and are working on a solution for this. We regularly ask young people for their feedback and work the sessions around this. We feel we provide a safe environment for all young people and ensure that they are able to speak to us if they have any concerns.
Provider to make parents aware of the Tuesday morning session which may not be suitable for children with auditory sensory needs. Provider to consider a safety sheet that can be sent out to new children or given upon arrival. This could include information about having ear defenders if needed or where to find a quiet place.

Bodsters

Bodsters provide fun activities where learners interact with ponies on the ground. Learners help devise activities, such as leading a pony and working loose in the round pen. Children and Young People age 5 to 18 years are catered for under the Short Breaks offer. They provide a 30 minute 1 to 1 session.  

Overall rating of 3 stars

The Young Inspector was given a taster session of all the different aspects of the session that could be incorporated into the individual session. The sessions are tailored to the individuals needs and preferences. The Young Inspector really enjoyed all the activities with the ponies in the pen from grooming to leading both on and off the lead but felt it was not something she would choose to do again although said that it would be good and enjoyable for other people. A visit in advance usually takes place to start to build up rapport and to get to know the young person and what they would like to do and get from the sessions and this helps to tailor this session. There were lots of activities to choose from which would cater for young people with a variety of interests including activities to learn about the ponies and build up confidence around them at a pace that is tailored to individual needs. Sessions can be accommodated in most weathers as there is a sheltered area to use undercover too.
Clear safety advice was provided at the start of the session including fire safety, keeping safe around the ponies and in the area. The young Inspector said she felt safe throughout the session with the advice and instructions that were given. The staff provided a warm welcome and were attentive to the young person and parent throughout the session. They took time to explain things, answered questions and provided choices. The young inspector felt that they staff were very friendly and helpful.
Clear instructions were provided to find the venue by car and young people arriving by bus are collected from the local village. The venue is accessible for a wheelchair and sessions can be adapted to meet individual needs including bringing an assistance dog if needed. There is not an accessible toilet but there are facilities in the nearby village. The young inspector felt that having a choice of morning and afternoon sessions was important as a morning session would not have worked for them. They felt that it was good value priced at £10 for a 1 to 1 session.
Suggestions for improvement include activity sheets for inspectors in the session to keep them involved and fire safety needs to be included in the safety talk for new people attending. The parents waiting area was overgrown, but this has now been cleared. The session times are incorrect as the sessions last 1 hour and 45 mins.
“A very nice day that we wouldn’t think of doing”

Emma’s Otters

Address: Medina House School, School Lane, Newport PO30 2HS

Date of Inspection:  27/6/24

Number of Young Inspectors present: 3

Ages of Young Inspectors present: 5, 9 and 16 years

Details about the provision/activity: Fun, friendly and fully accessible swimming lessons, centred around learning through play with plenty of imagination.

When is it available: Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and evening sessions

Session cost: £7

Overall rating of 3 stars

The Inspectors were warmly greeted outside from Emma at the start of the session and there was one adult with 3 children in the water. The teacher spent time with them individually and got to know them and their swimming level quickly and was able to support and encourage them with their next steps.

The Young inspector who was very confident in the water said it was fun but found the pool too small for his needs and said for that reason he probably would not go again. The less confident swimmers appreciated having a smaller pool that they could stand up in and the opportunity to be in a smaller group and said they would definitely go again.

The Young Inspectors said they were not given any safety advice prior to going in the pool. However, the staff were very aware of the children whilst in the pool and advice was given when required.

A young inspector did not like getting water splashed in his eyes and was advised not to rub them but to blink his eyes to remove the water. This worked well and he felt much happier. 

They all said that the teacher was fun and engaging and that they felt safe in the session.

The session is fully inclusive and has hoist facilities to be able to get children in and out of the water if needed. The venue is easy to find with adequate parking.

The session times were excellent, allowing for children to attend out of the area after school and are good value. One of the young inspectors said he really enjoyed being able to go swimming before bedtime.

It was 100% fun

A safety briefing to be included at the start of the session or sent out to parents in advance.

I think Emma’s otters is a brilliant resource. All the staff are fantastic and have really helped his confidence grow in the water

Feedback from the provider

This is fab, thank you and we will look to include more safety advice moving forward.

Youth Club Network Ryde

A free social activity with games and snacks that takes place on a Thursday from 6pm to 8pm

Address: St Thomas Church, St Thomas Square, Ryde PO33 2PL

Date of Inspection:  12/09/24

Number of Young Inspectors present: 2 aged 13 and 16 years

Details about the provision/activity: Youth club

When is it available: Thursday 6 - 8 pm  

Session cost: Free

Overall rating of 3 stars

The Inspectors were warmly greeted upon arrival and shown around the new facilities which are much bigger, and they were able to choose what they wanted to do in the session. They were also advised that not everything was out in the session as it may be too overwhelming but that they could ask for something else if they wanted.

They both said that they enjoyed the session, one of them chose to spend time in sensory room and was freely able to do this which made them feel more comfortable. Staff did check in on them to make sure that they were ok.

They both took away information to sign up and said that they would like to attend again. One of Young Inspectors made a new friend in the session and the other young people in the group were friendly and welcoming.

The Lego, pool table and computers were very popular with everyone as well as the computers. One of the young inspectors felt that they would benefit from having more games available to play on the computers.

There was plenty of staff in the session engaging with all the young people and they were very welcoming to the young inspectors.

The children said they felt safe in the session and were given some information about safety in the talk and tour as they arrived. Staff were supervising all the areas and activities and was visibly present for young people to reach out too if they needed.

The session is fully inclusive and is on a ground level for wheelchair users. The sensory room provides an interactive space and there are several quiet rooms and spaces in the building that can also be used.

They were able to make their own toast and spread as a snack in the session along with drinks. They are encouraged to do this for themselves, but support is readily available if they need it. One of the Young inspectors suggested having biscuits available as a snack too as they did not like the type of bread that was offered for the toast.

The session time is good, allowing for children to attend out of the area after school. It is free to attend, and snacks are provided free of charge.

One of the young inspectors said he had a nice time and preferred the bigger space they had now and that he would come again.

“I am really happy that he wants to come back again, it is so hard to find activities like this that he can enjoy, and I feel that he will be safe”.

We are very happy that the young inspectors enjoyed their time here and they felt comfortable to come back to us again. We work hard to ensure that all young people who come through our doors feel welcome and supported as well as promoting their independence. We have also taken into consideration their suggestion about bread, and we will be working on providing this.

 

To perhaps consider other bread choices for the snack. Perhaps there could be frozen slices of white, brown, and other dietary needs to ensure that everyone can enjoy this.

Dungeons and Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game which welcomes players of all abilities. It takes place at Autism Zone in Newport on a Monday at 4.30pm until 6.30 pm. The session costs £4.50, and is suitable for age 13 to 19 years.

Overall rating of 3 stars

Both young inspectors who attended had never been to this session before or played this game. The group were very welcoming and took time to explain the game and support them along the way. They both said that they really enjoyed the session and would go again.
The staff were welcoming and provided warm introductions and a tour of the building and facilities upon arrival. The building and resources caters well for the needs of young people and is organised and presented well. Safety advice was provided and any allergies were checked out. The young inspectors both said they felt safe.
The building is fully accessible for a wheelchair with ramp access at the rear of the building and an accessible toilet. The resources were accessible, and the young inspectors were able to choose their own seating to use and were shown the quiet spaces they could use if they wanted too. The session starts at 4.30p.m which allows young people to attend from across the island on the bus. Snacks were readily available throughout the session which is welcomed by young people who arrive straight from school. Both inspectors said that the session was very good value for money .
Whilst this activity is bespoke and may not be suitable or enjoyable for everyone, I think it is very well organised activity that is welcoming of new people coming along to try this game. The staff and other players provided encouragement and support throughout the session and both young inspectors really enjoyed it. Staff were really friendly, made me feel comfortable and welcomed, safety advice was told well, and I knew what to do.
AIM would like to say a massive thank you to The Young Inspectors for joining us. Attending a new group, in a new place, with new people, can be nothing short of terrifying so, we were really pleased and pretty impressed that The Young Inspectors managed to get through the front door, let alone take part in the session! To have received such positive feedback helps us know that we are listening to what young people are telling us they need and responding appropriately so, again, thank you so much and we hope to see you again!
To continue to promote this session amongst the Young Inspectors and encourage them to come along and give it a try.

Waterside pool

Address: Waterside Pool, Esplanade, Ryde PO33 1LE

Date of Inspection: 06/07/24

Number of Young Inspectors present: 3 aged 7years, 9 years and 13 years

Details about the provision/activity: Fun sensory swimming lessons with parent/carer.  

When is it available: Saturday 8.30 a.m to 9 a.m, 11.30 am to 12 noon

Ages: 4 - 12 yrs

Session cost: £6

Overall rating of 2 stars

There were floats and swimming noodles for the children to use in the water and swim teachers on hand to support them with their parents. They were able to choose what they did in the session and two of them particularly enjoyed using the floats as well as practicing their strokes. They all said that the staff were friendly and helpful.

The young inspector who had not been before said he was not sure what he could do in the session so chose to swim in the deep end with his mum. A member of staff did check in on them.

All of the inspectors said that they enjoyed swimming and two of them said they would like to do this activity again.

The parent attending the afternoon session did not receive any information about the session prior to the session as expected and was not able to inform them of his swimming ability in advance and there was no advice given about safety in the session. The parents in the morning session were contacted in advance so this may have been an oversight. They all said they felt safe and that the staff were friendly and helpful.

The session is fully inclusive and has hoist facilities to be able to get children in and out of the water if needed. The venue is easy to find with adequate parking. The Young Inspectors felt the session times were ok.

There is a choice of a morning and lunchtime session, but they felt 8.30am was too early and felt that some children would prefer an afternoon or an afterschool session.

The price was good value for a parent/carer and a child to go swimming together.

One of the young inspectors aged 9 said that the session was too early but that he had fun and would go again.

A safety briefing to be included at the start of the session or sent out to all parents in advance.

I thought the staff were quite helpful it probably would've helped to know a little bit beforehand to prepare him if it was his first time and was more nervous, as it is he is quite confident, but some others may want to know what happens beforehand, how many other people are in there, the sound levels to expect etc. I was surprised how many adults were sat around the edge when we first went in

Safety briefing and information is sent out to all parents in advance of the sessions but it appears that for one of the parents they may of gone to their junk/spam folder. I think it would be helpful in the future if the children who were taking part as Inspectors had been confirmed a lot earlier, as then there would have been more time for the parent to have responded, or for me to chase up why she hadn’t responded to my email. As for the 8.30am class being too early, I think this is a preference which is why an 11.30am class is also offered. Our 8.30am class is the one that is nearly always booked

Sensory Session

A multi-sensory session with free play in a small friendly group that takes place on a Sunday from 10 am to 12noon, at a cost of £4 a session. 

Overall rating of 3 stars

The Inspectors were warmly greeted upon arrival by Clare. There was a range of equipment set out in the main room including a sensory light area and a craft room with a range of activities to choose from including painting models, colouring with smelly pens and cornflour. They were also able to choose to get out other equipment stored in the rooms if they wanted too. Clare spent time with each of the inspectors and parents getting to know them better and find out what their interests were. One of the inspectors aged 6 years said they liked the arts and crafts and playing with the fidget spinners. All the inspectors enjoyed the lights in the room and the balls were also very popular. They were happy to play together and also spend time by themselves.
The children and parents were shown around the building upon arrival and the resources were presented well encouraging the children to explore the rooms independently. The children were not able to go into the kitchen as it was shut off with a stair gate. One of the inspectors did not feel he was given any safety advice, but all the children said they felt safe in the session.
The session is fully inclusive and is on a ground level making it fully accessible for a wheelchair. There is a fully accessible toilet, and the venue is easy to find with adequate parking outside. The session time was good although one of the inspectors aged 8 said he was tired and would have preferred the session to be in the afternoon. All the inspectors said that the session was good value.
One of the young inspectors aged 6 years old was on her first inspection and said she liked the messy play and the arts and crafts the most.
One of the parents who had been to this session at the previous location said they thought this venue was much better and liked the range of activities on offer in the separate rooms.
To explore the possibility of some afternoon sessions and providing a safety briefing at the start to include fire safety.

Vectis Radio

Address: Vectis Radio, The Quay, Newport, PO30 2QR

Date of Inspection:  8 June 2024

Number of Young Inspectors present: 2 aged 16 years

Details about the provision/activity: Opportunity to gain confidence and skills while learning about presenting, producing, promoting and podcasting in live radio

When is it available:  Saturday 10am to 1 pm

Session cost: £6

Overall Rating of 3 stars

The young inspectors had a great time at this activity. The session was busy and engaging with another young person in the group and 2 adults working alongside them with different tasks and activities. They had the opportunity to be on the radio show and be actively involved in recording the 4P’s session to go out the following day.

One of the young inspectors who had never been before found his first experience a little overwhelming and was not sure if he would return. The other young inspector had been before and said it was really fun and enjoyed talking about topics and making new friends. They said it was a great experience of radio and they would definitely go again.

The young inspectors were warmly welcomed but did not feel that any specific safety advice was given at the start of the session. However, they both said they felt safe in the session and were looked after well. Safety information was clearly visible on the walls and instructions that were given to them were clear. They said that the adults were very friendly and helpful and made them feel welcomed.
The venue and toilet facilities are accessible for a wheelchair. The session is adapted to meet the individual needs of the young people and the staff will make any necessary adjustments to be able to meet their needs. The start time was convenient for young people at 11 am, one inspector suggested starting a little later might be better if someone had to travel on the bus. It was seen to be excellent value for money at £6 for a 3 hour session.

The activity was really fun, I enjoyed talking about different topics and making new friends

It was lovely to be able to hear the radio broadcast the following da

To consider a safety brief at the start of the session or perhaps a sheet emailed out in advance in case any young people need support to read or understand it. This was a suggestion in the previous report that was agreed to be actioned but unfortunately has not been.

I am pleased that the Young Inspectors enjoyed themselves and felt included, that is our aim.

There was a short safety briefing at the beginning of the session, but I fully accept that it could be more detailed. In terms of a safety sheet, that is something I will prepare for the future, not just for YI but for all new participants.

Both the young inspectors are welcome back on any Saturday.

Social Club

Fun, stimulating opportunity for young people to socialise and make friends outside of school hours at Riverside, The Quay, Newport, PO30 2QR. Sessions cost £5 and take place on a Monday at 3.30pm to 5.45pm.

Overall rating: 2 stars

Both young inspectors enjoyed the activities on offer but due to one of them living outside of Ryde they could not get there at the start and was not able to do all the activities on offer. The pool table was very popular with the young people but again due to time constraints they did not have enough time for this.
Safety advice was not given upon arrival, but posters were displayed for fire safety and the young people said they felt safe in the session.
The building and toilet are accessible. One inspector aged 16 who arrived an hour after the start time said the start time needed to be later to allow young people to travel as she does not like to arrive late to a group. It was seen to be good value for £5 as snacks were provided too.
One of the young inspectors aged 13 years enjoyed playing pool and appreciated having snacks available after going straight from school.
Please can we express when new children book into Scallywags the parents and child are invited for a pre visit where we discuss all their needs as this is very important so we can ensure all the child’s needs are met and appropriate equipment and resources are available and the setting is inclusive for them for when they are ready to start.
To provide safety advice at the start of the session for young people that are new and to consider changing the time of the session to accommodate people living outside of Newport.

Multi-sensory arts and crafts

Multi-sensory youth club with arts and crafts sessions for secondary school children/young people, at Beechgrove House in Ryde. Sessions cost £4 and take place on a Friday from 3.30pm until 5pm - open to age 11 to 17 years. 

Overall rating: 2 stars

The Inspectors were warmly greeted upon arrival. There was a range of activities set up including a large sensory light area in the main room. There was also a craft room where they could choose to paint a model, colour in with smelly pens or spend time with spiders in the cornflour. They were free to choose their own activities in the session and move between the areas. Clare spent time talking to them individually getting to know them and their interests. One of the inspectors said that they toys offered were fun but felt that there needed to be a larger quantity to use them in a more creative way. It was also felt that the selection of toys was limited and that having a greater variety would be beneficial.
The young people were shown around the facilities and the staff were welcoming. The rooms were decorated nicely with lots of sensory equipment available to use and the creative area was presented in an inviting way. The inspectors both said that they felt safe although one of the inspectors did not feel that any safety information was provided.
The session is fully inclusive and is all on a ground level making it accessible for a wheelchair. There is an accessible toilet. The venue is easy to find with adequate parking. The session times were good but one inspector said it would be better if they started a little later to enable young people out of the area to attend and not have to rush from school. The inspectors felt that the session was good value for money.
One of the young inspectors aged 16 said “It was really fun, loads of toys to play with. The staff were really friendly and welcoming, and I felt comfortable and safe there”
To explore the possibility of making the start time later and provide a safety briefing at the start of the session to include fire safety.

Horse riding

Horse riding and stable management for children with disabilities and/or additional needs at Island riding Centre, Staplers Road, Newport. sessions cost £10 are on Thursday and Friday 4.30 to 5.30 pm

Date of Inspection: 24/10/24

Number of Young Inspectors present: 3 aged 6, 10 and 13 years

Overall rating: 3 stars

The Inspectors were warmly greeted upon arrival and given a tour of the stables and surrounding area. There was a range of activities on offer, and they were encouraged to choose what they wanted to do and supported with this from grooming, feeding and riding the horses to cleaning the stables, racing on the hobby horses and also spending time with the other animals on site.

There were several members of staff in the session supporting the young people on and around the horses. All the inspectors came with a varied experience of horse riding from complete beginner to someone already accessing these sessions and they all enjoyed it. One of the young inspectors said they would have liked to learn more other riding skills on the horse other than walking and felt that the session would have been more fun if they tailored the session a little more around their abilities. One of the inspectors who chose not to ride the horse enjoyed the session so much he wants to go again and build up his confidence. the session and said that the activities were fun.

The venue is on ground level but the surface is fairly uneven and would be muddy in the wet weather making it more difficult for a wheelchair user to access.

The time of the session in the afternoon after school was good and they really appreciated that the session was also running in the school holidays. All the inspectors felt that the price was good value for the length of the session.

The venue is easy to find and has adequate parking. Travelling by bus was more difficult as it is on a busy road with limited paths and there is a lengthy walk down the track to the stables. There is a path leading from the road but this would be quite dark in the winter months at the end of the session.

They all agreed that the cost of the session at £10 was good value.

All the young inspectors were given a riding hat to wear in the session or they could bring their own if they had one. There was a brief safety talk and adequate staff supervising the children. The staff got involved with the children in the various activities and the children said they felt safe in the session.

One of the young inspectors who had never been before said he had a great time and would like to do the activity again. 

Another young inspector said that it would have been nice to have individual riding for different abilities.

Feedback from parents: “I have previously tried to call to cancel a session but have had difficulty speaking to a member of staff. It would be helpful if the reception had someone available for these calls especially if a parent is leaving a child and wanted to check they are ok.

Another parent was very impressed by the facilities and how the session was adapted to cater for her son who was initially anxious and unsure.

To explore the possibility of having a safety sheet sent out in advance highlighting the need to wear a helmet in the session and providing a map of the pathway to use if you are coming by bus. I also wonder if having a member of staff allocated to each young person on arrival may be useful in terms of providing an individual learning experience for each child/young person.

Our bus route info is on our website.

Once parents’ book, they get a reply info email regarding helmets and boots. It is standard that ALL children around horses including riding, wear helmets always around the horses for insurance reasons.

The app for booking is client friendly and clients can book and cancel on the app at any time with no need to call the office for cancelling as we are unable to take calls during the session. The office is open 9 am to 3pm daily.

We love running the sessions and always try to vary the sessions and of course be as inclusive as we can.

Doodles

Address: 7 Bowling Green Lane, Newport PO30 1RR

Date of Inspection: 12/10/24

Number of Young Inspectors present: 3 aged 5 and 10 years

Details about the provision/activity: Sensory arts and crafts sessions. Seasonal crafts and sensory spaces in a fun and safe environment.  

When is it available: Saturday 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm

Session cost: £10

Overall rating: 3 starts

The Inspectors were warmly greeted upon arrival and given a tour of the building layout and activities on offer for the session. The staff were friendly and helpful. All of the inspectors enjoyed the session and said that the activities were fun. One of the young inspectors said that they missed playing the hide the peg game they had played last time they went.

They all enjoyed the sensory room which has a lot of resources and places to chill out. They enjoyed building a track together for the cars and they all said that they would be likely to go again.

 

The venue is on ground level but does have a couple of steps inside to one of the areas, but I am informed that wheelchair users do successfully use this facility.

The time of the session in the morning was too early for all the inspectors who said they would prefer the afternoon session. They also felt that 3 hours could be too long for this particular activity for some children. They felt that the price was good value for the length of the session.  

The venue is easy to find with clear instructions provided at the time of booking and adequate parking nearby. 

The venue has separate areas that are used for different activities including a large sensory room. There are adequate staff supervising the children and they are positioned in all the areas with sight of all the children.  The staff got involved with the children engaging in their activities and providing ideas for them to do.

The children said they felt safe in the session but did not receive any safety advice.

One of the young inspectors said “I enjoyed the crafts and lego bricks. I had loads of fun”

To ensure that a safety briefing or sheet is provided at the start of the session for anyone that is new.

We usually do a safety briefing verbally, but we’ll make an easy read sheet to make sure that nothing is missed. We loved having the young inspectors with us and look forward to seeing them again next time. Thank you

Tiger Teens

Address: Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Yaverland, Sandown

Date of Inspection: 03/08/24

Number of Young Inspectors present: 3 aged between 16 and 17 years

Details about the provision/activity: Teen activity session exploring the animals of the Sanctuary.  

When is it available: Fortnightly on Tuesday from 4.30 – 5.30 pm

Ages: 12 to 17 yrs

Session cost: £5

Overall rating 3 stars

All 3 Young Inspectors enjoyed the activity and said that it was fun and was likely to go back.

One Young Inspector said that they would have preferred to spend more time with the animals and perhaps getting to find out about a particular species and their habitat in the session.

Another Young Inspector appreciated having the opportunity to see the animals prior to the activity and enjoyed the creative activity. 

The creative part of the session takes place in the café after the Sanctuary is closed providing a calm, relaxed and quiet space for the young people. The Young Inspectors said that they really liked that the group was small and not too busy. One of the Young Inspectors said that the length of the session was great as they struggle with sessions that are too long and felt that an hour was perfect. In this session they were looking at life cycles of animals and was making a life cycle wheel. The venue is fully accessible for a wheelchair user and has a disabled toilet.

They generally felt that the time of the session was good although one said that it would be difficult to attend after college due to the start time and felt that a later start at 5pm would be better.

The safety advice that was given was thorough and although one of the Young Inspectors felt this was boring but it was well received by them and they all said they felt safe in the session.  They all said that the staff were welcoming, friendly and helpful.

At £5 for the session this is very good value for money as you get to see the animals in the Sanctuary too

My son was safe and had a good time. I liked that I could stay in the building and support him if needed

It may be helpful to have some fidget toys on the table for the young people to access while instructions are being given out and to perhaps take around the sanctuary if they need them.

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