Little Forest Folk Putney

Inspection of Little Forest Folk Putney Roehampton Cricket Club, Telegraph Road, London, Surrey SW15 3TU

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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's emotional well-being is supported to the highest level. They flourish in this extremely nurturing and stimulating outdoor learning environment. Children show immense enjoyment and consistently show curiosity as they use their senses to explore the natural world. For example, children keenly use a magnifying glass to look for minibeasts, dig holes in mud and transport autumn leaves.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. They keenly follow instructions and rules, which they remember over time. For instance, children shout out during circle time to 'not pick anything that grows' and to 'stay within the rainbow flags'. This helps to keep children safe from harm.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely keen and motivated learners, and staff have very high expectations for all children. For example, children learn how to use a 'tippy tap' to wash their hands, they remember the names of insects, and they skilfully balance on logs and planks of wood. Children initiate learning, seek challenge and show a can-do attitude. Children's resilience, confidence and independence are progressing very well.

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The provision is outstanding

High numbers of staff ensure that children are supervised extremely well to help maintain their safety. Children's individual needs are consistently met by the very attentive key persons. Staff are exceptionally caring. They respond very effectively to the needs of all children to further promote their sense of self and uniqueness.

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need to do better?

n The highly qualified and skilled staff team uses the curriculum effectively to expertly teach children early mathematics, communication and language skills to an outstanding level. For example, children identify shapes in the environment, recognise different-sized sticks and count dots on large wooden dice. Children are confident speakers. They talk enthusiastically about minibeasts and excitedly show the inspector pictures of minibeasts they find. Children cuddle up with staff in a relaxed and tranquil woodland environment as they listen intently to stories and sing rhymes. n Staff skilfully help to spark children's imaginary play skills superbly. For example, children wear butterfly wings, hold out their arms and run freely. They negotiate logs, branches and uneven ground to help to develop their physical skills well. Staff encourage children to scoop up and collect autumn leaves to create 'a badger's home' and make 'ice-cream cones' in a mud kitchen.

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need to do better?

n Children concentrate for long periods as they dig holes in mud to find interesting objects. They are intrigued by different sizes and shapes of sticks. Staff are very consistent in their excellent teaching skills and how they extend children's

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need to do better?

1 December 2021 learning. n Children make excellent progress from when they first start to attend the nursery, particularly in their personal, social and emotional development, physical skills and early communication and language development. Children demonstrate excellent skills in using technology. For example, they remember how to use a camera to take photos of their surroundings. n Robust risk assessments are carried out by competent staff throughout the day, to ensure that children's safety is of the highest priority. Accidents are successfully and regularly evaluated to help to ensure that any hazards to children are removed or minimised. As a result of recent evaluations, children who have started most recently wear recognisable high-visibility waistcoats. This helps staff to quickly identify those children who require even higher levels of support while they explore outdoors. n Partnership with parents is excellent. Parents welcome information about their

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need to do better?

children's experiences every day and how they can further support learning at home. They keenly say that all staff know their children extremely well. Parents comment that their children make significant progress in their imaginary play and mathematical skills. n Staff have excellent opportunities to follow their continuous professional development. For example, most staff achieve or work towards a forest school leader qualification. This helps all staff to raise their teaching skills to a very high level. Following recent training, staff report competency in den building and a range of practical skills, including being able to use tools and light and manage fires safely.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's safety is of the highest priority and is at the heart of all decision-making. Staff have a robust knowledge of safeguarding children and child protection issues. The senior leadership team provides regular safeguarding training and updates to keep staff's knowledge and skills current. Staff know how to identify and report their concerns about children's welfare. The organisation follows robust, safe procedures to recruit new staff and oversees employed bank staff to ensure their suitability. Children show exceptional understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Staff remind children how to keep themselves safe in the woodlands.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2557645 Local authority Wandsworth Inspection number 10213548 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Little Forest Folk Too Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07707 545 913 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Forest Folk Putney registered in 2019. The nursery employs nine members of staff. Of these, five hold qualifications at level 6 and one member of staff holds a qualification at level 3. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday for most of the year. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm, except on Fridays, when the nursery closes at 3.30pm. The nursery provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector accompanied children and staff to the local woodlands. She observed the interactions between staff and children and spoke with the children when appropriate. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the deputy manager. n A range of documentation was viewed by the inspector, including public liability insurance, safeguarding procedures, risk assessments, accident reports and paediatric first-aid qualifications. n The inspector spoke to parents and staff and considered their views 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

1 December 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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