Wildwood Explorers

Inspection of Wildwood Explorers Worcestershire County Council, Worcester Countryside Centre, Wildwood Drive, Worcester, Worcestershire WR5 2LG

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This provision meets requirements

Children thrive in this unique setting. They arrive excited for the day ahead. Children start their day by sitting down with staff to recall their high expectations for their behaviour. They enthusiastically remember the rules and boundaries in place to keep them safe. For example, children explain that when in woodland area they should not run because they may not see tree roots under leaves, which could cause them to fall and have an accident.

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This provision meets requirements

Children spend a vast amount of their day outdoors. Staff provide them with a variety of challenging activities to keep them busy. Children show delight as they work in teams to build their own dens using sheets of tarpaulin in the woodland area. They develop excellent communication skills as they share their ideas with their friends and members of staff. Children are kind and respectful towards each other. When children encounter difficulty achieving their goal, they show perseverance and keep trying. Staff skilfully intervene when they need to by listening attentively to what children set out to do before helping them do this.

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This provision meets requirements

Children develop increasingly high levels of independence. They lead their own play and learning, and staff are always nearby to assist them. Children enjoy practising their mark-making skills. They take sheets of paper and different coloured crayons into the woodland area. They show high levels of concentration as they explore rubbing their crayons on paper against trees and discuss the different patterns they make.

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need to do better?

n The manager is highly ambitious and is an experienced and inspirational leader. She is passionate about the experience she provides for children. The manager uses self-evaluation extremely well to continually reflect on the quality of the setting. She is proactive in identifying any ways to improve the already exceptional standards she delivers. n The setting's ethos gives children an interest in caring for the environment. They participate in a themed week around being eco-friendly. Older children help to collect litter, and staff talk to them about how this will help their planet. When younger children unexpectedly find litter in the environment, they alert staff to this and help to clean it up. Children help to build hotels for bugs and wildlife creatures to live in. This helps them to appreciate the world around them. n Children's behaviour is impeccable. They show a deep understanding of the rules

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need to do better?

in place. Children respect that they must not pass outside of the boundaries in the woodland area. They approach staff to check whether a stick they want to use is outside of the boundary. Staff check and praise children for not leaving

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need to do better?

27 July 2022 their designated area. Children's high levels of compliance ensure that they remain safe. n The setting promotes an inclusive practice. Managers obtain information from parents about children's individual needs so that they can make necessary adjustments. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, the manager liaises with parents to identify what support they may benefit from. This helps children to access the setting and be supported to reach their potential. n Children develop their physical skills as they take age-appropriate risks. They practise climbing trees at a low level as they tie rope around branches to build the frame for their den. Children talk about the different type of knots they can make. They use mallets carefully to hammer pins into the ground to secure the sides to their dens. This helps children to understand how to stay safe. n Staff receive high levels of support from the manager. They attend a team

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need to do better?

meeting and individual meetings prior to every holiday period. The manager uses this time to ensure that staff understand their role and responsibilities. She reviews staff's individual training and professional development needs to identify how they can be supported to address these. This helps staff to continually improve their personal effectiveness. n Parents are highly complimentary about the quality of care their children receive. They appreciate the thorough and detailed feedback they receive about their child's day. Parents say that their children look forward to attending the setting. Children also comment positively about their experiences and say they love going out to the local environment.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager supports staff to complete regular training to keep their knowledge of safeguarding issues up to date. Managers and staff are alert to signs that could indicate a child is at risk of abuse or harm. This includes signs that could suggest a child is being exposed to radical or extreme views or concerns that a girl could be at risk of abuse specific to females. They know the procedures to follow to report any concerns to other professionals. The manager follows a rigorous recruitment procedure to assess the skills and suitability of staff working with children. Records of vetting checks completed for staff are maintained.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2542914 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 10215403 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 Out-of-school day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 82 Name of registered person Wyatt, Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 07877142125 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Wildwood Explorers registered in 2019. It is independently owned and operates within Worcester Countryside Centre. The setting opens for selected dates during school holiday periods. Sessions are from 8am until 5.30pm. There are five members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold a qualified teacher status and one holds a qualification at level 6.

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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 provider showed the inspector around the base classrooms and facilities used by children. n Parents and children spoke to the inspector and gave their views of the setting. n The inspector observed children playing, indoors and outdoors. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider and looked at relevant documentation and evidence of staff suitability.

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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

27 July 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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