Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre

Inspection of Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre Greatwood Farm, Ponton Road, Boothby Pagnell, Grantham, Lincs NG33 4DH

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision requires improvement

The experience that children get at the setting varies between the different ages. Some younger children do not receive the same quality experience throughout the day. At times, children under two spend time unable to settle and upset as staff are busy completing other daily tasks and do not provide them with the reassurance they may need in a timely manner. That said, children are independent and are keen to try things for themselves.

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The provision requires improvement

Older children develop extensive physical skills and determination through the many daily experiences staff provide, such as exploring the forest. Children learn how to keep themselves safe while climbing on different logs and trees and balancing on uneven surfaces. Staff help children to develop their imagination. Children listen carefully to staff as they discuss making a mud cake and confidently share their ideas about it being a birthday cake for a frog. Children giggle as they put sticks in as candles and sing 'Happy Birthday'.

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The provision requires improvement

Children have close relationships with staff and develop firm friendships with other children. They share and negotiate the use of resources without needing any support from staff. At snack time, staff praise pre-school children as they pass the jug of milk to each other and make sure there is enough for everyone. Children demonstrate their manners by saying 'thank you' to one another. Young children explore the environment and find different age-appropriate resources to engage with. However, some staff lack the skills to interact with them in a way that helps them to learn and develop the skills and knowledge they could during play.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan activities based on children's interests, and children show high levels of concentration. Staff play alongside children to find out what skills and knowledge they have. Staff use this information to plan what children need to learn next. They also focus on helping children develop a love of the outdoors and how to respect the environment. n When children choose their own play, most staff interact in a way that helps them to build on what they know and can do. Staff help children to create different patterns with large magnets and discover how to build towers with them. However, at times, staff who work with the youngest children do not recognise which children need further support to get the most from their play. Therefore, at times, some young children find it hard to engage in play and stand unoccupied. n Most staff help children to learn through familiar daily routines, such as explaining why children need to wash their hands before eating. However, staff

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need to do better?

working with the youngest children change the routine without preparing the

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need to do better?

2 May 2023 children. They take snack outside, but do not position themselves to be able to offer children the support they need or explain to children what they need to do. Children become confused and keep getting up to walk around with their crackers and milk until the manager steps in to support them. n Staff support children to learn how to keep safe when using equipment. They teach them how to put helmets on to protect themselves when learning to ride a bicycle. Staff encourage children to use cutlery to eat their dinner and discuss with them what makes their meal healthy. n Staff develop children's love of stories and their confidence in speaking and communicating their thoughts. They encourage children to listen to a variety of books and retell their own story using key words and phrases they learn. Staff support them to use new vocabulary and learn how their spoken words can be written on paper, including different sounds represented by letters. They

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need to do better?

encourage children to develop their pencil skills by drawing a picture for their story and sharing this with their friends. n The leadership team reflects together to plan how to improve the setting and experiences for children. Leaders have clear processes for identifying what individual staff need support with and put this into place in a timely manner. However, the quality of leadership at room-leader level is not yet consistent, particularly for less-experienced room leaders. Although all room leaders are provided with training opportunities to develop their leadership skills, this is not yet effective at raising the quality of practice and deployment of staff in some rooms. n Parents and carers are extremely complimentary about the communication and guidance staff provide. They comment that the setting is incomparable and children are blossoming with staff's support.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff and leaders have a thorough understanding of their responsibilities in keeping children safe. They attend regular training to keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. Staff and leaders know the families and children very well. They demonstrate a good understanding of the signs and symptoms that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff and leaders are confident in recording and reporting any concerns to the relevant professionals. Leaders have a thorough recruitment procedure and continuously monitor the suitability of all staff. The site is secure and has clear visitor procedures. Staff check the environment regularly to ensure it is a safe place for children to play.

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Due date

deploy staff to support all children's needs consistently. 05/06/2023

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should:

n provide staff working with the youngest children with further support to be able to recognise and make the most of learning opportunities n embed further the professional development that room leaders are provided with to improve the consistency of leadership skills and ability.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY545446 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10284682 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 154 Number of children on roll 174 Name of registered person Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01476 585584 Date of previous inspection 11 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre registered in 2017 and is located in Boothby Pagnell, Grantham. The nursery employs 47 members of childcare staff. Of these, 29 hold at least a level 3 qualification, including the manager, who has early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children. It has adopted the forest school ethos.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and the inspector conducted a learning walk together, discussing the learning intention for children and how the environment is arranged. n The manager and the inspector observed and evaluated an activity. n The inspector observed staff and children of all ages throughout the nursery. n The inspector held discussions with staff and leaders regularly during the inspection. n Parents' and carers' views were taken into consideration. n A sample of documents was reviewed, including paediatric first-aid certificates, suitability checks, and safeguarding policies and procedures.

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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

2 May 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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