Little Forest Nursery

Inspection of Little Forest Nursery Pavilion Cafe, Somerhill Road, Hove, Sussex BN3 1RP

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children are highly engaged and motivated to learn in this delightful nursery. They have superb opportunities to play and learn in the carefully designed spaces, such as the sensory room. Members of the dedicated management team demonstrate immense passion, knowledge and ambition. They share their clear vision and curriculum planning to ensure all areas of staff practice are consistent and of high quality.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff are extremely caring, attentive and enthusiastic. A culture of respect, warmth and concern for the welfare and care of each child is evident across the nursery. Staff wait and observe children as they play before asking effective questions or offering support to aid learning. They involve children in making choices and changes to their activities to help develop learning fully. Children are impressively self-sufficient and keen to do things for themselves. Learning experiences are continually evolving, particularly in the inviting garden. For example, children fully use their imagination and resourcefulness to turn the pirate ship into a house. They show high levels of concentration and perseverance. Children's physical skills are further developed as they climb and peg tarpaulins to the structure. Children engage in lively conversations, sharing their experiences. They behave extremely well and demonstrate excellent social skills. When they have finished building, they

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The provision is outstanding

find guitars to play and say they need to 'celebrate'.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide an abundance of opportunities to enhance children's communication skills and develop their love of books and stories. For example, children listen intently to an 'invisible' story, enthusiastically told without a book, that stretches their imagination. They recall previous learning and respond positively to adults and each other. Children learn exciting new vocabulary, such as 'labyrinth' and 'astonishing'. n Staff skilfully develop children's understanding and control of their emotions to support their well-being. For example, they use the calming sensory space and the story of the 'Colour Monster' to help even the youngest children understand their feelings. Older children discuss how they feel nervous about moving on to school. Staff use positive reminders of starting in the nursery to reassure them. Children show that they are happy and secure, which helps them to learn with great enthusiasm.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff know the children and their families incredibly well. They are completely committed to meeting the needs of each child's learning and development. For example, managers provide additional staffing to help children to access all opportunities for learning. They form highly effective partnerships with other professionals to help to ensure children have the extra support they

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need to do better?

18 June 2021 need. Meetings continued through video calls during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. All children, including those with special educational needs, make rapid progress. n Children learn about the world around them and to take care of their environment. For example, they watch tadpoles in the pond and know they will become frogs. Children grow tomatoes and beans to eat. They carefully recycle paper and card at tidy-up time. Staff encourage all children to help by singing a 'tidy-up song'. n Mathematical concepts are cleverly woven into daily routines and activities. In the garden, children use positional language and talk about full and empty as they fill bottles with 'magic potions'. Older children add numbers together and tell staff there are 'more than a hundred aphids on this plant'. n Managers actively support staff well-being. For example, they meet staff at frequent intervals to discuss their practice and how they are feeling. Targets set

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need to do better?

for staff are highly focused on continually improving outcomes for children. Staff continually learn from each other and work together as a highly motivated team. They benefit from excellent opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and qualifications further. n Partnership with parents is particularly strong. This partnership has a significant impact on children's outcomes. For example, staff record videos of nursery activities for parents to use at home. This helps children settle when they first start. Staff use family values provided by parents to help children learn about the similarities and differences between people. Parents are extremely complimentary about the nursery. They comment on the 'happy staff' and the wonderful use of the garden.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff prioritise children's safety and well-being in this nursery. They support children to discuss any worries and concerns. Staff have frequent and in-depth training and staff meetings where they can discuss child protection. These contribute to their secure and up-to-date knowledge of how to keep children safe. Staff understand their role and know what to do if they have any concerns about a child's welfare. Managers check staff's suitability to work with children. Regular checks and timely interventions help to minimise risks in the environment. Managers deploy staff very well to ensure children have effective supervision both indoors and outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY561930 Local authority Brighton and Hove Inspection number 10190930 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person Hossack, Claire Amy

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reference number

Telephone number 07802546904 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Forest Nursery registered in 2018. It is situated within St Anne's Well Gardens in Hove, East Sussex. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm each weekday throughout the year. The nursery employs 11 staff, nine of whom have a suitable early years qualification at level 2 or above.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The inspector and the curriculum coordinator completed a learning walk around the setting and discussed how the curriculum is organised. n A joint observation of staff practice was carried out by the inspector and the curriculum coordinator. n Several parents gave their views to the inspector and these were taken into account. n The inspector held a meeting with managers and checked a sample of documents, including evidence of staff training and suitability checks.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

18 June 2021 regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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