The Learning Tree @ Manor Farm

Inspection of The Learning Tree @ Manor Farm The Barn, Manor Farm, Church Lane, Chilcompton, Radstock BA3 4HP

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children arrive ready to learn and separate happily from their parents and carers. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They are busy and engaged throughout the day, choosing what to do and what to play with. For example, older children enjoy making pretend cupcakes in the sand with their friends. Children of all ages enjoy the rural surroundings. They comment on the cows that have been moved into an adjacent field, and staff take babies to a 'tea and toast' event at the village church. This helps children learn about their local community. Children are well behaved and there is a calm atmosphere at all times.

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The provision is good

Staff know the children well and confidently identify what they need to work towards next. They use what they know to provide learning experiences that help all children, including those who have additional needs, to make good progress. Staff have high expectations of all children and take steps to ensure that those at risk of falling behind are identified and supported.

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The provision is good

The nursery remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic to support key workers. Staff kept in touch with the families of those children who were not attending. They sent home ideas of how parents could support their children's learning at home. Since children returned, leaders and staff have noticed the impact of the pandemic on children's communication skills and their personal, social and emotional development. They are providing activities to help children catch up in these areas, such as using specialist programmes with small groups of children to develop their language skills.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff have worked together to establish what the curriculum for children should be and how it applies to the different age groups of children. Staff assess children's progress regularly and involve parents in this process. For example, they have a focus week for each child every six weeks. This includes asking parents for updated information about their child's interests, likes, dislikes and life at home. This helps staff to tailor activities to children's individual needs. n Children enjoy using the pleasant learning environment where they can easily access resources and move around freely. They operate independently. For example, they explore the outdoor water tray and discover that they can use pipettes to squirt water. They then use the water to make marks on the building. n Children respect one another, learning to play amicably and building friendships as they get older. Staff talk to them a lot about sharing and taking turns, and

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need to do better?

children respond well. They listen to instructions and show patience when they have to wait for others before having lunch.

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need to do better?

16 June 2022 n Leaders are keen to extend children's understanding of the wider world. They ensure that staff provide children with ongoing opportunities to see and use resources that reflect positive images of diversity. These include books and dolls. Extra-curricular activities, such as yoga, are included in the fees to ensure that all children have the opportunity to experience them. n Leaders place a strong focus on staff's well-being. They have an open door policy and arrange activities, such as paddle boarding, to help staff manage stress and also to build team spirit. Staff report high levels of support and good opportunities for professional development. For example, one member of staff has trained as a well-being adviser and several are currently working towards relevant qualifications. n Partnerships with parents are a particular strength. Staff work closely with parents to ensure that they are fully involved in their children's learning. They

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need to do better?

update them regularly online and through discussions and there is information for them in the nursery magazine and on the blog on the website. Parents are regularly invited to social events, such as a picnic, to get them involved in the nursery. Leaders and staff also work closely with other agencies to support children who need additional support. n Staff are not always deployed effectively enough. There are times when some do not consider where they would best be positioned to support children's learning, and leaders do not step in and redirect them. n Leaders regularly monitor and coach staff to develop their practice. However, there are some inconsistencies in staff's ability to respond to, and build on, children's learning to help them make the best possible progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff have an appropriate understanding of how to protect children. All staff complete relevant training and leaders discuss safeguarding with them at regular meetings. They are aware of various signs that a child may be at risk and know what to do if they are concerned. Staff are clear that they would pass on their concerns to the designated safeguarding leads and know who to contact if the leads do not take appropriate action. The environment is safe and secure. Staff take steps, such as getting children to wear high-visibility tabards, to help keep everyone safe when going on walks around the area. They help children to understand risk. For example, when children are playing at putting out fires, staff remind them about the water making the floor slippery.

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should:

n review the deployment of staff to ensure that they engage more fully with

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should:

16 June 2022 children and seize every opportunity to support their learning as much as possible n provide further coaching for staff to develop consistent practice across the nursery with regards to their ability to extend children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2589228 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10242670 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 50 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person The Learning Tree Nursery (PSJ) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01761322011 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Learning Tree @ Manor Farm opened in 2020. It is situated in a rural setting in Chilcompton, Somerset. It is open from 7.30am to 6pm every weekday throughout the year. It is in receipt of funding for free education sessions for children aged two, three and four. There are 14 staff. Of these, one has qualified teacher status, one has a level 4 qualification and seven have a level 3 qualification.

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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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of child-led play with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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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

16 June 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.

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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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