Forest Kindergarten

Forest Kindergarten Toy's Hill Car Park, Toy's Hill Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1QG

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 June 2016 Not applicable

p.1

3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

p.1

This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The provider does not ensure that she meets all the requirements of the early years foundation stage. She does not maintain the appropriate level of qualified staff at each session or have evidence of their first aid training.  The provider does not keep an accurate daily record of children's hours of attendance. This is also a breach of the Childcare Register.  Staff do not build on children's understanding of diversity and help them learn about each other's backgrounds and home languages.  Self-evaluation is not effective enough to identify areas of weakness and set targets for improvement.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and enjoy their time at the forest school. They make good progress and any gaps in development are closing.  Staff support children's physical development well. For example, they provide challenging opportunities for children to jump over logs, climb banks, and splash in puddles.  Children learn that their views are valued and important, and they make suggestions about what they would like to do each morning.  Staff support children's independence and knowledge of healthy lifestyles well. For example, they provide healthy options at snack time, which children help to prepare.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that there are sufficient qualified staff present at every session 18/07/2016

p.2

Due Date

 make sure that records are available for inspection 18/07/2016  keep an accurate daily record of children's hours of attendance. 18/07/2016

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 increase opportunities for children to learn about each other's backgrounds and home languages to extend their understanding and awareness of diversity  improve self-evaluation to identify areas of weakness and set targets for improvement.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning and development.  The inspector conducted joint observations with the provider.  The inspector spoke to parents and considered their views.  The inspector viewed a range of documentation, including staff suitability checks and children's records.  The inspection took place following the risk assessment process.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The provider's self-evaluation process is not rigorous enough to identify weaknesses and target areas for improvement. She does not ensure that sufficient qualified staff are on duty at all times. In addition, not all required records are available for inspection, such as evidence of staff first aid training. The provider monitors children's progress well. This helps her to identify any emerging gaps in development early and provide effective support. The provider supports staff effectively, for example, through meetings and observations of their practice. Staff attend training to improve their knowledge and skills. For instance, they learned how to make better use of natural resources. Safeguarding is effective. Staff implement their child protection policy well. Following an incident where a child wandered off, the provider has improved ways of keeping children safe. Staff provide regular opportunities to involve parents in their children's learning, such as through daily

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

discussions, regular meetings and emails. This helps parents to continue their children's learning at home.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children's learning and development well. They interact positively with children and encourage their creative play well. For example, children invent a cafe area in the woods and write their menus with chalk, practising their early writing skills. Staff encourage children to explore and investigate, such as the ferns. They ask children questions to encourage them to think for themselves. For example, staff ask why there is scratch on a tree and children suggest that it was made by a dinosaur. Children are well motivated and interested in their learning.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The provider does not maintain an accurate daily record of the hours that children attend, as required. However, improved supervision of children and a high staff ratio mean that this does not have a significant impact on children's safety. Staff talk to children about the importance of always being able to see a member of staff and keeping safe. Children form secure emotional attachments and positive relationships. Staff know them well; for example, they swiftly recognise when children tire and secure a hammock to a tree so they can rest. Children behave well, and staff provide clear guidance. Staff do not make the most of opportunities to help children learn about diversity.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident to talk to adults and share their ideas. For example, they use sticks to mark the spot with an 'x' and explain that is where the treasure is buried. Children develop good mathematical skills. They count to 10 playing hide and seek. Children make good progress and are ready for their next stage in learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY499462 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1055005 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 3 - 4 Total number of places 14 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Caroline Elizabeth Watts

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07718896919

p.4

reference number

Forest Kindergarten registered in 2016. It operates in Westerham, Kent. The school offers care on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 2pm, and on Wednesday and Friday from 9am to midday during term time. During holiday periods, there is a club which runs Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm. There are four permanent members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications. The forest school receives funding to provide early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

reference number

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.

p.4

reference number

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

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

p.5