Outdoor Child

Outdoor Child Lower Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, ST. ALBANS, Hertfordshire, AL4 8RU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 October 2017 28 March 2014

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff have built exceptionally strong working partnerships with parents. Their input and views into their children's learning is highly valued and welcomed. Staff keep parents consistently well informed about their children's achievements and next steps in learning. Parents are provided with an extensive range of innovative ideas that can be used at home to support children's excellent progress.  Children rapidly build very close bonds with their key person. They are extremely happy in their care and demonstrate that they feel very safe in the staff's care. Children flourish in confidence and are very self-assured.  Managers at the nursery are very passionate about their work with children, this helps motivate staff towards excellence in their provision for children. Views of children and parents are sought and taken into account when implementing new plans and ideas. Staff work closely together to implement developments or improvements, identified

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This provision is outstanding

through frequent, extensive evaluations of their practice.  Children have extensive opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They very eagerly take part in an exceptional range of opportunities in the forest. Children delight in exploring and talking about what plants and trees need to keep them healthy.  Staff skilfully build on children's language and communication skills. They talk to children about what they are doing. Staff help children recall information about games they have previously developed for themselves. They repeat words back to the children to fully support their pronunciation and extend their vocabulary.

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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

 continue the excellent continuous professional development opportunities that focus on delivering and maintaining, the highest quality of teaching.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff put children's safety and welfare at the heart of everything they do. They have extensive knowledge about the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff attend safeguarding training to keep themselves updated. Children rapidly learn to identify potential risks for themselves, and to work together to plan how to minimise and reduce those risks. The management team has implemented highly robust systems of observing staff's practice. Staff have frequent supervisory meetings, where they review their overall quality of teaching, and identify their own areas for further development. They understand the importance of continuously improving their own practice. Staff intend to make use of all opportunities for professional development and training, to maintain the high quality of teaching. Staff have extremely positive partnerships with other settings that children attend. They frequently share children's

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

achievements and progress, which helps support an excellent continuity of care.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff precisely evaluate the assessments of children's learning and development. This helps them to rapidly identify any areas in, which children may need further support. They share key information with parents to help them guide their child's learning at home. Children have extensive opportunities to extend their early writing skills, staff encourage them to use the natural objects around them. Children delight in using earth mixed with water to practise writing their names on card in mud. Staff expertly challenge children, encouraging them to work together to solve problems, and find solutions. For example, during children's play they pretend to rescue an animal from the bottom of the hill. Staff provide suggestions and children work out that they can tie their ropes to together and then to the tree to pull their pretend animals up the hill.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. They rapidly learn the skills of negotiating with each other during their games. Mealtimes are used skilfully by staff to support children's understanding about healthy lifestyles. They talk about the food they each have and where is comes from. Children delight in planting and growing their own fruit and vegetables. They enjoy watering and caring for them, gaining a secure knowledge of where food comes from. Children are very proud of their achievements as they take the food home to share with their families. Children rapidly learn to respect one another and listen to each other's views. They are beginning to understand their own emotions and how to treat one another. Staff support children in learning excellent manners.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are very eager learners. All children consistently make rapid progress from their starting points. They are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage in learning and rapidly learn the skills ready for their move on to school. Children eagerly search for the different cards with pictures and names of animals and insects on. They delight when they find the bug that matches the card they have found in forest.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461961 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1102496 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Outdoor Child Ltd.

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 28 March 2014 Telephone number 01582855054

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reference number

Outdoor Child registered in 2013. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff; two of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 9.30am until 2.30pm. The nursery has a summer holiday scheme from Tuesday to Thursday. Sessions are from 9am until 2.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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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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