The Beehive Montessori Forest School

The Beehive Montessori Forest School Tenterden Spinney (off the Grove), Chesham Bois, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5LG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 April 2018 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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The provider is a strong manager and leader who has very high expectations for the children attending. She is extremely attentive in ensuring children learn about their own safety and gain independence, resilience and confidence during forest school activities.  Staff know the children very well. They use their knowledge of children's interests and abilities gained from children's attendance at the provider's other setting. Staff are able to plan well for children's learning and participation at the forest school.  Children thoroughly enjoy their activities. They engage with eagerness and motivation within the exciting, challenging and interesting outdoor, natural environment. They make good developmental progress.  Staff highly prioritise children's safety. They use risk assessments, policies and procedures effectively to ensure children's safety, health and well-being. Parents are provided with a broad range of information to help them understand the aims of forest

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This provision is good

school and how it complements children's learning in their main setting.  Children show an exemplary awareness of expectations for behaviour. They understand the boundaries and rules that keep them safe and abide by these at all times.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not consistently use their skills and knowledge confidently while working alongside the provider, to further enhance the already good quality of teaching and children's engagement.

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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

 offer further coaching to staff to build and enhance their skills for implementing the forest school.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff interacting with children during forest school activities.  The inspector spoke with children, parents and staff.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the provider. They discussed how staff are supported to develop their skills and knowledge.  The inspector met with the provider following the forest school session. The inspector spoke with the provider about how staff plan for children's learning.  The inspector sampled the provider's documentation.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The provider uses effective systems for recruitment to ensure staff's suitability. She provides staff with training, for example, to help broaden children's communication skills. She guides staff's implementation of forest school principles, which helps them to gain a high focus on safety and promotes children's exploration and socialisation skills. Staff reflect well on the provision and have clear plans for future improvement. Safeguarding is effective. Staff demonstrate understanding of all aspects of safeguarding matters and how to protect children. Parents are very positive about the provision. They acknowledge the 'wonderful experiences' and speak highly of the 'many opportunities to support their children's exploration and confidence'.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their knowledge of the children to build on their learning during forest school activities. They make focused observations and assessments of children's achievements and carefully track the progress children make. Enthusiastic staff offer a broad range of activities. The provider is extremely proactive in supporting children's wider learning. For instance, she confidently uses props and puppets to engage children's interest, such as when learning about birds, the environmental danger of dropping litter, and when reading with children. Children are acquiring a special interest in the outdoors.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children flourish in the highly stimulating environment. They show high levels of independence. The provider skilfully uses puppets to sustain children's attention while helping them understand safety in regard to potential dangers. For example, she sensitively helps children learn about stranger danger, and they confidently act out scenarios to demonstrate this to their friends. Children know forest school rules, for example, that boundary ropes are there to protect them. Children show high levels of understanding, knowing when the whistle sounds they must return immediately to base camp. They know to drag rather than lift a stick to ensure they keep each other safe. They show respect for the environment, knowing not to pick growing flowers. Children enjoy nutritious snacks and carefully place rubbish in the bin. They take turns, share and play extremely contentedly alongside each other.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children thoroughly enjoy their activities. They demonstrate high levels of confidence and willingness to explore the natural world. For example, children learn how birds make nests and use words such as 'prickly', 'soft' and 'rough' as they describe their contents. Children develop confidence in their physical abilities as they swing from rope swings and transport themselves over bridges made from trees and rope. They enhance their imagination as they play inside the large den made from branches and twigs, pretend to cook and invite their friends into their castle. All children benefit from the vast range of outdoor experiences and show readiness for the next stages in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494409 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 1027422 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 40 Number of children on roll 27 Name of registered person Lyndsey Maclaren Nelson

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07932173990

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reference number

The Beehive Montessori Forest School registered in 2015. The forest school employs five members of staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 4. The forest school operates one morning a week, term time only. Sessions are from 9.15am to 12.15pm. The forest school receives funding to provide free 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

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

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