The Funny Farm

Report for childcare on domestic premises

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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 are welcomed into the setting by very enthusiastic and friendly staff. All children develop strong attachments with their key person. Children are happy to go to all staff members if they need support or help. This demonstrates how safe and secure they feel in the setting. Young babies enjoy the physical contact they receive from staff members. They actively seek this out when they become tired or hungry, and staff quickly meet their needs.

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The provision is good

Children behave well in the setting. They remember the golden rules by using visual cues on the wall and they know to use their walking feet inside. Regardless of age, children play well together. Younger children enjoy observing what their friends are doing. Older children welcome them to the activities and, once confident, babies crawl over and investigate. For example, at the small-world play, they allow younger babies to move their toys around without becoming upset.

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The provision is good

Children have a good understanding of the setting routine from a young age. Musical cues support children to know when it is time to tidy up. Children proudly let staff know what they have tidied, smiling as they are praised for their efforts.

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need to do better?

n The provider, who is also the manager, is passionate about providing good- quality flexible childcare for all children. She has a clear curriculum and reflects regularly on the setting. The manager is committed to making improvements. She uses observations to see what is working and what needs to be adapted. The manager involves all staff in decision-making, and staff feel confident to make suggestions at staff meetings. This helps the setting to continue to provide good-quality care and education. n Children are well settled in this home-from-home setting. Staff know children extremely well and use knowledge about their interests to support activities. Children make independent play choices from a good range of resources within the room. Staff work hard to differentiate activities to meet the different ages and stages of the children at the setting. However, at times, younger and quieter children do not get the same opportunities in group activities to answer

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need to do better?

questions and develop their knowledge, as the older and most-confident children. n Staff monitor children's learning and development regularly and share this with parents. Staff identify children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) early. They work closely with professionals to use reports and plans to provide consistency in supporting learning. The setting special educational needs coordinator regularly completes training. This keeps her knowledge current and ensures she is aware of changes within the local authority.

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need to do better?

27 February 2023 n At times, children's independence is well promoted. Babies are encouraged to feed themselves independently, beginning to use cutlery. Older children take themselves to the toilet and understand hygiene routines. However, not all staff encourage independence across the whole day. For example, at mealtimes, staff serve food and plates to children that they could do themselves. n Parents highly commend the setting. They love the home-from-home feeling and find all staff friendly and welcoming. Parents state that they receive a lot of communication from the setting. They love the pictures and activity information they receive daily. Parents return to the setting with children's siblings, demonstrating the trust they have in the staff team. Parents comment that any issues they have are quickly rectified. n The setting works closely with other settings children also attend. Staff regularly

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need to do better?

share development reports and general information about children. Parents find this highly supportive for their children and can see the positive impact of the consistency in both settings. n Staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities. The manager regularly discusses training needs with staff and supports them to complete higher level qualifications. Staff share their recent learning from training at staff meetings. The team works together to embed learning in order to support children's development even further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider and staff have good knowledge and understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and know how to report any concerns they may have about a child. Staff know the correct procedure to follow if they have concerns about a colleague's behaviour. The manager completes daily risk assessments of the building and outside space to ensure they are safe. The manager follows robust recruitment procedures with in-depth checks completed to ensure staff are suitable to care for children.

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should:

n support staff to consistently engage the quieter and less-confident children in group activities, to further increase their learning and development n encourage children to do even more for themselves during everyday activities, such as mealtimes, to further develop their independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2620761 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10264307 Type of provision Childcare on domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 30

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Funny Farm registered in 2020 and is situated in Bedmond, Abbots Langley. The setting employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 5.30pm all year round. It provides funded early education for three- and four-year- old children.

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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 the deputy joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during an activity. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the 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 February 2023 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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