Mead Open Farm Day Nursery and Activity Day Camp

Mead Open Farm Day Nursery and Activity Day Camp Mead Open Farm, Stanbridge Road, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 9JH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 February 2018 11 August 2016

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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

 Children establish strong bonds with staff. They are confident to seek cuddles when they feel upset. Babies settle quickly when they arrive and confidently explore the environment.  Staff support children to be independent from the start. They provide children with good opportunities to make their own choices. Babies help to tidy up and select their own snack. Older children put on their shoes and coats ready to play outside.  Staff are enthusiastic and know the children well. Children are engaged in purposeful activity and make good progress.  Leaders value the staff team and encourage them to develop their skills and knowledge. Staff share what they learn on training events to help each other enhance and develop their skills.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not gather a wide enough range of information from parents about what their children already know and can do on entry, to help establish their starting points.  Sometimes, group activities are not planned well enough to support each child's individual stage of learning 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

 gather a wider range of information from parents about what their children already know and can do to help establish children's starting points  enhance planning to ensure activities support each child's individual stage of development.

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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. She spoke with children and staff during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and the provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Since the last inspection, the provider has initiated building work to create additional nursery space. This has resulted in the temporary use of other suitable buildings within the farm premises. The provider has implemented appropriate procedures to ensure that children's needs are consistently met. The provider follows secure recruitment procedures, checks proof of identity and completes suitability checks. Staff receive child protection training and know how to identify and report any concerns about a child's welfare. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager completes regular supervisory meetings with staff to help coach and develop their practice. She evaluates the quality of the nursery provision and reviews the progress made by individual and different groups of children that attend. This helps her to identify any gaps in provision or where any individual child may benefit from additional help.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff know the children well. They observe the children as they play and assess their progress. There is a strong focus to support children's communication and language skills. Staff talk to children as they play and follow their interests. Staff working with babies are very responsive to their early communication. They warmly repeat sounds and expressions they make. Babies begin to move their bodies in time to the songs staff spontaneously sing. Staff weave mathematical language into children's play. They show children numbers as children make marks with water and paint brushes outside. Children accurately count the steps as they negotiate small obstacle courses they build. Parents are positive about the nursery. They state they are well-informed about their child's progress and that their children enjoy their time at nursery.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The key person system is well-established. Staff are sensitive to how children are feeling and help them to understand their emotions. Settling-in procedures are flexible to help children to feel safe and secure when they start nursery. This helps children to develop confidence and resilience to deal with change, for instance when they move to different rooms in nursery. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this unique nursery. There is a strong focus on outdoor learning experiences. This helps children to learn about the world around them and the benefits of healthy lifestyles.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress and are working at expected levels for their age range. They are gaining key skills and positive attitudes to support the next stage in their learning. Children learn to share and develop respect for each other and their environment. They are beginning to recognise letters in their names and count accurately to 10.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY490033 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 1122653 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 0 - 4 Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 87 Name of registered person Kids Play Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 August 2016 Telephone number 07816 217024

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reference number

Mead Open Farm Day Nursery and Activity Day Camp registered in 2015 and provides childcare from designated premises within the farm. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications, including nine at level 3 and four at level 6. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year around apart from bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The activity camp opens from Monday to Friday during Bedfordshire local authority school holidays. Activity camp sessions are from 8.30am until 5.30pm. There is an option of early or late club dependent on need. 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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