The Forest Pre-School At Copythorne

The Forest Pre-School At Copythorne Copythorne C Of E Controlled First School, Romsey Road, Southampton, SO40 2PB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 June 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 Good 2

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This provision is good

 Children enjoy being outside and learn about the natural world as they explore and investigate, supported by enthusiastic staff. Children learn to be very independent, such as when carrying their bags to the woodlands.  Staff welcome parents into the pre-school and keep them well informed. They successfully involve them in their children's learning. For example, they invite parents to an end-of-term celebration, where children demonstrate new skills they have learned.  Transitions to school are supported well. For instance, staff invite teachers to visit the children in the woods. They share information with them when children are due to start at school, to ensure continuity of learning and care for all children. All children make good progress.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff do not always give children enough time to think and respond to questions to develop their thinking skills fully.  There is potential for staff to build on the ways they help children to understand the wider diversity within today's world that extends past their own family and pre-school experiences.

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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

 assist staff in recognising when children need more time to answer questions to extend their thinking skills.  support staff to help children share even more experiences and explore the similarities and differences of their families and the wider communities beyond their own.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed practice and staff interactions with children during outdoor activities in the woodland and assessed the impact of this on their learning.  The inspector explored the arrangements for safeguarding children. She also completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held discussions with the manager and the other members of staff to discuss areas of leadership and management, including supervision and support arrangements, and the use of the self-evaluation process.  The inspector spoke with parents and took account of their views and comments.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including staff suitability checks and children's developmental records of progress.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities to protect children, and the procedures to follow if they have a concern. The manager carries out effective risk assessments to minimise hazards and maintain children's welfare. Staff teach children how to keep themselves and others safe in the woods. For example, children talk to adults and each other about which plants are poisonous and should not be touched. Staff undertake training that is relevant to their needs and their role, such as specific training for the outdoor learning environment. Staff regularly reflect on their practice and ensure that children have their say, for example, as they request more water and petals for the mud kitchen so they can make potions.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how children learn. Planning is focused on children's current interests and developmental needs. For example, a child-led ethos demonstrates clearly to staff the children's current likes and dislikes. Staff routinely observe and assess children's progress to effectively identify appropriate next steps in their learning. Children move freely around the woodland and demonstrate high levels of engagement throughout the day. They explore their own creativity and use their imaginations well, such as when using natural resources collected in the woods to make 'sticky stick' creatures and when using rope tied between trees to build a trap for 'blue monsters'.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff provide a warm welcome to children and parents as they arrive at the pre-school, and children settle quickly. Staff know the children extremely well and caringly meet their individual care needs. Children demonstrate very high levels of independence and are curious, imaginative and energetic in their play. Safety underpins all the activities and children quickly learn what the rules are, for example, during their campfire snack, children remember to sit on one knee so they can safely move away from the fire. Children routinely take manageable risks in their play, for instance, they climb a range of trees, quickly working out how high they can safely go on their own. Children learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. For instance, they understand why it is important to wash their hands well, especially after playing in the mud.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children achieve well and make good progress. They develop key skills that prepare them well for the next stage in their learning, such as school. Children have enjoyable opportunities to develop their mathematical understanding and early writing skills. For example, they look up page numbers in a book, following the sequence into the hundreds. They also enjoy using chalk to make marks on vertical surfaces, such as tall trees.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY497243 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1039835 Type of provision Sessional 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 23 Name of registered person The Outdoor Learning Company Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07909241898

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reference number

The Forest Pre-School At Copythorne registered in 2016. The pre-school is open each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.15am to 2.45pm, during term time only. There are five members of staff, four of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager who holds a level 7 qualification. The pre-school follows the forest-school outdoor-learning ethos.

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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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