Into The Woods Outdoor Nursery - Kenwood House

Inspection of Into The Woods Outdoor Nursery – Kenwood House West Lodge, Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, London NW3 7JR

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Staff put children at the heart of everything that they do. They have a deep respect for children and encourage them to be kind to others. Children thrive in this welcoming and friendly nursery. They have the freedom to explore their environments in safety and can make choices about what they want to do. Staff keep any risks to children minimised, enabling them to stay safe from harm. Children have access to huge amounts of space. They behave well as they explore outdoors. Children listen well to staff's instructions. For example, they know how far they can venture alone, or that they need to 'stand like a tree' when a dog approaches them. Children are very aware of the rules which are made for their safety.

p.2

The provision is good

Children make good progress across the seven areas of learning. They are involved in fun activities that inspire their engagement and support their understanding in all the different areas. For example, children learn about the different kinds of helmets and their uses. They make their own using a range of open-ended creative materials, such as twigs and laces. At times, children are encouraged to work together with their peers to build on their teamwork skills. This helps them to have a can-do attitude in their play.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff are well qualified and skilfully use their knowledge of child development and forest school to plan for each child's learning. They build on what the children already know. Children show great enthusiasm and positive attitudes towards their learning. They are supervised well by staff and confidently use screws, nails and hammers. Children talk about how they used a saw to cut the branch last time. The management team demonstrates immense passion, knowledge and ambition and is keen for children to experience hands-on learning in the natural environment.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children have lots of opportunities to practise developing their physical skills and play outdoors. They enjoy looking for bugs in their natural habitats and listen and watch the birds in the open. Children enjoy walking and balancing on tightropes in the woods and delight swinging in hammocks to relax. They have many opportunities to become independent. For example, children pour the water for their friends from a bottle to help them wash their hands. Others collect the used paper towels in plastic bags as they get ready for lunchtime. n Children have many opportunities to listen to stories and rhymes. They independently choose books and take them to staff, who read to them. Children who arrive at the nursery with limited skills in their speech and language flourish into becoming strong communicators. They frequently engage in conversations with staff, including at mealtimes, which are considered social occasions.

p.2

need to do better?

19 May 2022 n Children form close bonds with caring key staff. They are confident to leave their parents and carers as they arrive. Staff also help children to settle, and reassure them as necessary with cuddles and soothing words during the day. They use emotion cards to help children to find the words to express how they are feeling. This helps to support children's emotional well-being. n Staff have high expectations for all children and plan a stimulating curriculum that broadens children's experiences. They know individual children well and assess their development closely. Staff take their lead from children's play. They spend a good amount of time joining in and guiding children's learning. Staff are passionate about developing children's understanding of the natural world. n Parents are very complimentary about the nursery. They say that their children's confidence and speaking skills have increased since coming to the setting. Staff

p.2

need to do better?

invite parents to meetings to discuss their children's progress termly and they also have daily discussions. However, parents are not always informed about their child's next steps in learning or given strategies that they can use at home to help their children practise their skills, especially when children aged between two and three years have their progress check. n The management team has not fully developed the links with other professionals involved in children's lives to share what they know about children's learning and development. For example, a lot of children go to other settings and there is no contact with the other nurseries if the children have no additional needs. n Managers ensure that staff have the training they need and check that they are supported emotionally. This means that staff feel valued and positive about their work. However, further targeted support would help all staff to gain an even

p.3

need to do better?

better understanding of how to support children and to understand the procedures of the setting

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The management and staff complete all mandatory training, such as child protection and paediatric first aid. This helps to ensure that they have a good understanding of how to safeguard children. Staff's knowledge extends to include safeguarding concerns, such as the 'Prevent' duty and female genital mutilation. They use daily risk assessments to ensure that the learning environment is safe and secure for children while they play and explore. The high staff ratio makes sure that staff are deployed very well. This ensures that children have effective supervision when learning outdoors. Staff are confident in liaising with outside agencies to protect children, and this promotes children's well-being.

p.3

should:

19 May 2022 n build on the existing systems to communicate with parents about the progress check for their children aged between two and three years and their next steps in learning, so that they can help their children at home n strengthen partnerships with other professionals involved in children's lives, to support continuity in teaching and care n make greater use of existing staff monitoring procedures to more precisely identify areas to develop further, and raise the quality of teaching to a higher level.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY557352 Local authority Camden Inspection number 10174932 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 73 Name of registered person Into the Woods Outdoor Nursery Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 07597 763011 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Into The Woods Outdoor Nursery - Kenwood House registered in 2018 and is located in Kenwood House Gardens in Camden, London. The same provider has another branch based in Highgate Wood. This child-led setting is based on the forest-school ethos and the focus is on learning through nature. It operates during term time from 9am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. The majority of its employees have appropriate childcare qualifications at level 2 and above.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the staff team and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector went on a walk with the children and staff to the woods, and observed the children at a campsite. She observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the owner. n The inspector held meetings with the management team. She spoke to staff and children at appropriate times. n The inspector spoke to some parents and took account of their views.

p.6

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.6

Inspection activities

19 May 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.6

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.7

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.7

Inspection activities

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

p.7

Inspection activities

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

p.7