Little Forest Folk

Inspection of Little Forest Folk Bishops Park Tennis Pavilion, Stevenage Road, London SW6 6DX

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

The leaders and staff have extremely high expectations for all children, including those with additional needs. Children thoroughly enjoy the wealth of opportunities for outdoor learning. They follow familiar routines and are highly motivated to join in. For instance, they quickly become engrossed in the mud kitchen. They play using their small muscles to scoop, mix and pour as they pretend to cook.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are very happy in this vibrant and nurturing environment. Young children settle quickly and develop a real sense of belonging. Children show high levels of confidence. They proudly talk to staff and the inspector about their camp and things they enjoy. A strong key-person system enables staff to know and meet children's unique needs very effectively. Staff respond rapidly to children's individual care needs.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well from an early age. For example, they learn good manners, share and take turns. They follow instructions and listen. Children form close relationships with each other and with staff, who know them well. They show respect and kindness and understand the importance of helping others. Children learn to regulate their own behaviour. They learn to understand their own feelings and know to stop and breathe when they need to.

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need to do better?

n The inspirational leaders have designed a highly effective curriculum to ensure all children are ready for the next stage of learning, including their eventual move to school. All children, including children with any additional needs, are supported well. Leaders continually monitor and improve the quality of the provision. They help ensure staff workloads are manageable and provide regular support. Staff are able to enhance their knowledge through additional training, such as forest skills. They make highly effective use of the woodland camp area to support all areas of children's learning and development. n Children fully embrace the natural world. They thoroughly enjoy investigating and exploring. For example, they use magnifying glasses to hunt for minibeasts. The skilled staff extend children's knowledge as they talk about life cycles of butterflies and help children learn that spiders have eight legs and are not

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need to do better?

insects. Children also develop new vocabulary as they talk about the texture of clay. n Children have substantial opportunities to learn how to keep themselves safe; even children new to the nursery know the safety rules. Staff frequently talk to children to help reinforce these. For example, when asked what they do if they see berries growing, children respond, 'no licking or picking' and know these could make them unwell. Children are confident speakers. They talk about not

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need to do better?

22 September 2021 crossing the rainbow ribbon in the camp area and know to listen if they hear the whistle, as this could signal an emergency. n Partnership with parents is superb. Parents are highly complementary about the leaders and staff. Parents value the information staff share with them about what they observe children doing. Staff know what children can do and what they need to learn next. They establish effective links with other professionals working with children, to identify and close any gaps in children's learning. They work tirelessly as a team, to ensure each child's unique needs and interests are supported exceptionally well and ensure no child is left behind. n Children's health is supported extremely well. The staff use their parrot puppet to help children learn about good oral hygiene. Children take turns to help 'piratey parrot' to learn how to take care of teeth. They use silicone model teeth

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need to do better?

to help develop their tooth-brushing skills. Children enjoy a variety of nutritious foods. They learn about the importance of a healthy diet through discussions at mealtimes. Children understand why they must regularly drink water, use sun cream and wear hats during periods of hot weather. n Children thoroughly enjoy imaginative play. They have a wonderful time as they pretend to be pirates. They excitedly talk about their secret treasure and explain, 'The treasure box will disappear if you move it, because it is magic.' Children's physical development is supported particularly well. They develop their coordination as they 'walk the plank' and climb and explore the pirate ship. They share animated discussions with staff, as they talk about sharks and dolphins in the sea.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff have completed safeguarding training and have a highly secure knowledge of child protection procedures. They fully understand the steps they must take in the event of a concern about a child's welfare. They have strong knowledge of wider issues that can affect children, such as extreme views and behaviours. Leaders constantly review and enhance risk assessments to keep children safe. Staff use walkie-talkies to constantly communicate outdoors and ensure children wear high-visibility jackets in the camp area. All staff hold appropriate paediatric first-aid training certificates and are well deployed to ensure children are well supervised. When appointing new staff, leaders follow safe recruitment processes to ensure staff are suitable and have the skills they need.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY543049 Local authority Hammersmith & Fulham Inspection number 10207185 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Little Forest Folk Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07707 545 913 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Forest Folk registered in 2016. It is one of a number of privately owned nurseries. The nursery is located in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. They offer their service from 9am to 3.30pm on Monday, and from 8am to 6pm on Tuesday to Friday, except for bank holidays and one week during the Christmas holidays. The nursery employs eight members of staff. Of these, one holds early years teacher status, two hold level 6 qualifications and two hold early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n Leaders and the inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector completed joint observations with the nursery managers. n Parents shared their views and experiences as part of the inspection. n The inspector held discussions with the leaders, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.

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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

22 September 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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