Wild Life Day Camps Holiday Camp At Walton Firs Cobham

Wild Life Day Camps Holiday Camp At Walton Firs Cobham Walton Firs Activity Centre, Convent Lane, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1HB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 May 2017 Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The manager has established thorough and effective procedures for monitoring the overall effectiveness of the provision. He has a strong understanding of the strengths and weaknesses and is committed to achieving all-round excellence.  Children quickly form exceptionally strong relationships with staff and each other. Older children are extremely supportive of the younger ones. For instance, they show them how to build hideouts and make bows and arrows out of sticks.  Staff spend plenty of time talking to the children and listening to their views and ideas. They share what they learn from these conversations and their observations as a team at the end-of-day briefings to improve their activity planning.  Children engage in wonderfully exciting, adventurous and physically challenging outdoor activities. They develop high levels of confidence and self-esteem.  Children have a very thorough understanding of how to keep themselves safe around

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This provision is good

the camp. For example, they know how to behave around the campfire and, when playing in the woods, to remain within sight of staff and to always hide in twos.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although the provider plans and provides comprehensive staff induction training just before the start of the summer camp, provision for staff starting at other times in the year has been less thorough. Not all staff, therefore, have a strong understanding of the setting's policies and procedures, including wider aspects of safeguarding.

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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 and develop further the arrangements for inducting new staff to help develop their knowledge and understanding of the setting's policies and procedures earlier on in their employment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children engaged in activities, most of which were outdoors, and the quality of staff's engagement with children.  The inspector took account of the views of children, parents and staff.  The inspector looked at a range of documents, including safeguarding and welfare policies and procedures, evidence of staff suitability and performance management records.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider, who is also the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Risk assessments are thorough and used effectively to help to keep children safe. Staff recruitment procedures are rigorous and include in-depth interview processes which focus on appointing high-calibre staff. Staff receive regular supervisory meetings and their performance is reviewed at the end of each camp. Training needs, such as to help staff gain leadership skills and achieve forest school teaching qualifications, are identified and targeted. Although the very newest members of staff are not fully knowledgeable about all aspects of safeguarding and the setting's policies and procedures, this is recognised by the manager and is being addressed. The manager and longer serving staff have a thorough understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow if they are concerned about children's welfare. Partnership with parents is very good. Staff maintain strong levels of communication with parents to help

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

ensure children's individual needs are met. Parents are provided with detailed information about the activity programme and health and safety procedures. They are immensely impressed with the provision and liken the activities provided to their own childhood where 'adventure play and physical challenge were all part of the fun'.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff work extremely well together as a team to plan an exciting activity programme. They empower children to make their own play choices, to experiment, represent and develop their own ideas. For example, children use pine cones and shells to make 'crazy bugs'. Staff plan team competitions, such as for building the most unusual, waterproof, prettiest, or functional den. Children have great fun finding their way to the exciting play castle accessed through a challenging maze and searching for nature items to make costumes for the nature fashion show. When children face physical challenge, staff help them to overcome this for themselves.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff give a high priority to keeping children safe while playing. They carry two-way radios so they are able to summon support, for instance, if a child has an accident and needs first-aid treatment. Children spend virtually their entire time outdoors using the woods as a natural playground. For example, they have rolling races down steep hills, balance across moving logs and swing over mud ditches. Behaviour is exemplary. Good health is very well promoted. For example, parents are provided with information about suitable lunchbox contents and staff ensure children have regular drinks so they never feel thirsty. The camp is a nut-free zone and children all understand the importance of not sharing food because of potential allergies.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY536257 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 1060687 Type of provision Out of school provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 4 - 8 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Wild-Life Day Camps Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07557519566

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reference number

Wild Life Day Camps Holiday Camp at Walton Firs Cobham registered in 2016 and is one of 14 out-of-school provisions run by Wild Life Day Camps Limited. It is open each weekday from 9am to 9pm during school holidays. The provider is the manager and employs four additional staff. The provider holds a level 3 qualification in playwork and in forest school leadership. One member of staff is a qualified sports coach and another has qualified teacher status (primary).

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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.

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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.

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reference number

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reference number

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

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reference number

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

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