Highway Farm Activity Centre

Inspection of Highway Farm Activity Centre Highway Farm, Loscombe Road, Four Lanes, Redruth TR16 6QA

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

p.1

The provision is good

Children are well settled and are happy to separate from their parents on arrival. Staff know the children very well. They work effectively as a team to plan for the children's learning and development. They facilitate children's interests well through their curriculum, and provide a wide range of experiences that prepare children well for their future learning. Children's independence is promoted with self-care tasks, such as peeling their fruit and washing their own hands. Children display exceptional behaviour. They understand the rules and boundaries of the setting. Children are eager to share experiences, play cooperatively and understand concepts such as turn taking.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are extremely calm and relaxed in this highly nurturing environment. They receive an abundance of reassurance and cuddles from staff. This positively promotes their emotional well-being and helps to ensure they feel safe and secure. Staff sit with the children at snack time and lunchtime and children enjoy the company of each other and the staff. Children learn to take risks as they climb on the logs and gather around the fire pit. Other children demonstrate curiosity and wonder as they eagerly search the field undergrowth, looking for eggs.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff provide a curriculum that has a positive impact on helping children to progress through the stages of learning. Children build on and remember what they already know and can do. For example, when children were exploring pond life, they remembered about the life cycle of a frog when discussing tadpoles. However, at times, children are not given enough time to think and answer questions successfully. This then results in a lack of interest and engagement from children and they wander off. n Staff help children to learn new words. For instance, staff teach children about water simmering. However, sometimes, staff's teaching and their quality of interactions are not fully effective to extend children's learning further. For instance, staff do not make the most of opportunities for children to develop their language skills as much as possible. n The manager and staff quickly identify children with special educational needs

p.2

need to do better?

and/or disabilities and use their assessments to offer tailored support to help these children to make progress. They work with parents and other professionals to ensure a suitable individual curriculum is put in place. Where formal plans are needed, these are completed in time for children to move on to the next stage in their learning with the correct level of support. n Staff foster children's personal development superbly. Children are exposed to a rich set of experiences that promote an understanding of the world around them. Staff provide exciting opportunities for children to learn about different

p.2

need to do better?

6 April 2022 people and their backgrounds. The management team is part of a scheme that facilitates links with schools and settings in other countries. This develops the children's understanding of other cultures, people and the world in which they live. n Children enjoy being outside in the fresh air. They develop good physical skills as they climb, jump and balance along the wooden planks and tyres. Children develop good hand-to-eye coordination as they roll eggs down pieces of guttering. Children have an excellent understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. For example, without prompting, they know to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet. n Partnerships with parents are highly valued. Parents praise the quality of care and education that their children receive. They appreciate the termly 'family day' sessions that the staff offer at weekends. They comment that the nursery 'goes

p.2

need to do better?

that extra mile' with the activities and experiences that they provide for children. n The management team has a clear vision for the setting. They know what they expect of staff and what they want staff to teach children. However, more regular monitoring of staff practice is required to ensure that all staff know how to support children's learning and development to consistently high levels.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The designated lead for safeguarding understands her role and what to do if she is made aware of concerns relating to a child's welfare. Staff know the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's well-being or about an adult working with children. They know indicators of abuse, including how to recognise if a child is being exposed to extreme views. Managers have updated and made improvements to risk assessments and make sure that these are well implemented to ensure children's safety.

p.3

should:

n strengthen staff development to ensure that all interactions continually focus on promoting children's language as much as possible n continue to support staff to consistently interest and engage children in all activities.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY339547 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 10125853 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 41 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Highway Farm Activity Centre Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01209 211905 Date of previous inspection 13 May 2015

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Highway Farm Activity Centre is run by a private partnership and provides an outdoor pre-school, after-school care and holiday care. It opened in 2006 and operates from purpose-built premises situated on the edge of Four Lanes village, near Redruth, Cornwall. Care is available to pre-school children from the age of three years between the hours of 8am and 6pm during term time. The play scheme is open each weekday from 8am until 5.30pm during school holidays, except at Christmas. There are six staff employed to work with the children; each has an appropriate early years and/or play work qualification. One member of staff has qualified teacher status and two are qualified at level 6. The setting receives early education funding to provide free places for children aged three and four years.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector had a tour of the premises and discussed how the managers and staff use the available space to deliver the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n A manager and the inspector carried out joint observations on two activities and reviewed the learning intentions and impact. n The inspector held a discussion with the management team in relation to the leadership and management of the setting. She looked at a range of documentation, including suitability information relating to staff.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

6 April 2022 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6