Fontmell Magna Under Fives

Inspection of Fontmell Magna Under Fives Blandfords Farmhouse, West Street, Fontmell Magna, SHAFTESBURY, Dorset SP7 0PF

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children relish attending this excellent pre-school where they feel safe to explore and learn. They arrive full of enthusiasm and quickly get involved in an interesting range of activities. For example, they explore dough using an unusual array of objects, such as real flowers, leaves, pebbles and pumpkins. Children thoroughly enjoy playing in the thoughtfully equipped outdoor play area and exploring the exciting forest environment. They develop excellent social skills. They form strong friendships and work extremely well as a team. For example, they excitedly cooperate with one another to design and build a high tower.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff are highly skilled at following children's interests and extending their learning. They adapt activities throughout the day to excite and inspire children's learning. For example, when children show an interest in numbered pumpkins, staff build on their curiosity and encourage them to identify the numbers and put them in order. Staff have the highest expectations for all children, whatever their starting points. They skilfully build on what they know about each child to support their learning as effectively as possible, whether indoors or outside. Children make notable progress, developing an extremely positive attitude to learning and an exceptionally strong drive to explore.

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need to do better?

n Staff work exceptionally well as a team. They work closely together to ensure that they have an in-depth, shared understanding of children's care and developmental needs. They know each child extremely well and are skilled at adapting activities to extend children's individual learning and responding promptly to their interests. Staff interact extremely well with children, chatting to them about an extensive range of subjects and respecting their ideas. n Staff are passionate about using the forest area to help children learn an extensive range of skills in a natural environment. For example, children learn how to use secateurs safely as they make stick men from twigs, and relish carefully building a pyramid of branches. They learn about boundaries and safety when they use the firepit with staff. n Children are exceptionally well behaved. They patiently wait for their turn and willingly share and cooperate. For example, children work successfully as a team

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need to do better?

to build a wall with bricks and sand. They develop many independence skills, including washing up after snack time. Children are extremely confident in making choices about their play and focusing on activities for prolonged periods. For example, they relish making potions and get fully engaged in experimenting with pouring these in and out of bottles of different sizes and colours. n Children are great communicators. They chat excitedly about what they are doing and frequently engage in conversation with one another and with staff.

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need to do better?

3 November 2022 Staff are skilled at encouraging children's language development and helping them to catch up quickly if they have any delay. n Children have excellent opportunities to learn about hygiene and healthy lifestyles. They know the daily routine of washing their hands before entering the pre-school and have a handwashing station in the forest area so that they can wash their hands before having their snack outdoors. The role-play area has books and signs about healthy eating to provoke conversations about this subject. Staff offer nutritious snacks to children and discuss with them what foods are good for them. n The manager and staff provide the highest levels of support for the whole family. For example, they link with local supermarkets to offer families surplus food. They also offer recipes and ideas for healthy packed lunches. They have a book sharing scheme to encourage parents to read with their children.

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need to do better?

n The highly-effective manager works closely with the skilled staff to ensure a shared ethos and drive for excellence. They continually reflect on, and improve, their knowledge and skills and the quality of the provision. The manager makes excellent use of staff's individual strengths and particular interests to ensure the highest quality of teaching.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is paramount. All staff do relevant training at level 3. This helps to ensure that they have an in-depth understanding of a wide variety of the possible signs that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff have a comprehensive knowledge of what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare. They also know how to escalate their concerns outside the organisation if necessary. Staff are vigilant at all times and ensure that the environment is safe and secure for children. They use walkie-talkies to ensure that they can keep in touch with one another at all times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY413949 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10235442 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Fontmell Magna Under Fives Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01747812773 Date of previous inspection 28 February 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Fontmell Magna Under Fives registered at its current premises in Fontmell Magna, Dorset in 2010. The group is open Monday to Friday, from 8.45am until 2.45pm, during school terms only. There is also an out-of-school club that operates from 7.45am until 8.45am and from 3pm until 4pm. The group receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are seven staff employed. Of these, five hold qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2. One staff member is working towards a level 2 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 and her team took it in turns to join the inspector on a learning walk. They talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. 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. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a mathematics activity with the manager. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

3 November 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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