Highway Farm Activity Centre

Highway Farm Activity Centre Highway Farm, Loscombe Road, Four Lanes, Redruth, TR16 6QA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 May 2015 27 May 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 Children thrive in this unique and highly stimulating environment. Staff have an excellent knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and exemplary care and teaching skills. Children make significant progress from their developmental starting points.  Children are exceptionally keen to learn and they show excitement and enthusiasm throughout their activities. Staff use innovative methods to successfully engage children and involve parents in learning, to enhance support and partnerships.  Staff meet children's individual needs exceptionally well. They skilfully assess and monitor children's abilities and provide further challenges to learning. Staff have an excellent awareness of their own key strengths. They are very conscientious in maintaining their high-level quality of care and education for children.  Leadership and management are excellent, which results in very rigorous monitoring systems. Staff are extremely enthusiastic and passionate about their childcare

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This provision is outstanding

provision. They continuously seek and share inspiration for new ideas to increase their exciting facilities for children.  Staff have robust partnerships with parents, schools, other early years settings and professionals. Their highly effective communication ensures rigorous support in children's care and development.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 extend children's understanding of time when taking turns outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children in their indoor and outdoor activities and sampled children's development records.  The inspector held discussions with the owners, staff and parents.  The inspector checked required records and documentation, including risk assessments, accidents and staff qualifications.  The inspector undertook two joint observations with one of the owners and took account of the self-evaluation form.  The inspector checked safety, security and suitability of the premises.

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who attend. This is outstanding

Staff provide a nurturing and inspirational environment for children to experience. The timber base rooms are cosy and welcoming, so children show delight as they arrive. Exceptional planning and organisation of outdoor space robustly promote children's exploration and discovery. Staff have high expectations and innovative ideas, which result in children's awe and wonder during activities. For example, children discover hidden objects 'left by a fairy' in a golden urn. This enthrals children and prompts excited conversations, which extend language development and imagination. Children make special bags to take home and collect treasure with their family, such as from the beach. They take great pride in their findings and tell their friends about them with confidence. Staff skilfully promote children's independence and ability to solve problems. Children have very positive attitudes to learning, so they are exceptionally well prepared for school.

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outstanding

Staff are very conscientious in their supervision of children. They complete rigorous risk assessments of the premises and all equipment to ensure safety. Children learn to take risks and to understand safe boundaries with highly effective help from staff. They listen carefully and behave exceptionally well, such as when staff give a gentle reminder on the correct way to use cutlery. Staff have a very positive approach to managing behaviour, although, on occasion, they miss opportunities to enhance children's understanding of timescales when taking turns. Children engage in fascinating experiences to help them learn about food. For example, children grow their own produce, forage for edible plants and make herb butter for their snack. Staff respond with skill to children's questions, for instance, they promptly demonstrate how high a herb plant will grow using a tape measure.

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provision is outstanding

The dynamic staff team has excellent partnerships with early years settings in other countries. They share their expertise in joint training to facilitate outstanding practice. Staff have individual specialisms, such as bush craft, camp fire cooking and music. All staff gain enhanced skills as they continuously learn from one another. The owners act as consultants in the development of similar ventures. Parents are thrilled with their children's progress and activities. They say that something new and exciting occurs each week. One of the current plans is to build a viewing platform with a telescope. This will enable children to have a panoramic view of the world around them, to add a new dimension in learning. Staff meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage exceptionally well and have a thorough knowledge of the procedures to safeguard children's welfare.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY339547 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 828350 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 3 - 8 Total number of places 27 Number of children on roll 60 Name of provider Highway Farm Activity Centre Partnership Date of previous inspection 27 May 2009 Telephone number 01209 211905

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Setting details

Highway Farm Activity Centre is run by a private partnership and provides Little Explorers outdoor pre-school, after school and holiday care. It opened in 2006 and operates from purpose-built premises situated on the edge of Four Lanes village, near Redruth, Cornwall. Care is available to pre-school children from the age of three years between the hours of 8am and 6pm, in term time. The play scheme is open each weekday, from 8am until 5.30pm, during school holidays, except Christmas. There are six staff employed to work with the children; each has appropriate early years and/or play work qualifications. One member of staff has Qualified Teacher Status and two are qualified at level 6. Little Explorers receives early education funding to provide free places for children aged three and four years.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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