Little Adventurers Forest School (Walesby) Ltd

Inspection of Little Adventurers Forest School (Walesby) Ltd Scout Association, Walesby Forest Scout Centre, Walesby, Newark NG22 9NG

p.1

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

p.1

The provision is inadequate

The manager does not complete robust risk assessments with regard to the safe use of mobile phones and tablets. Staff keep their personal phones with them during the day and take their work tablets home in the evenings to work on children's observations and assessments. This means children's personal information is not fully secure, and their safety cannot be assured.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Despite this weakness, children love coming to this provision. They arrive full of energy and chatter with staff about what they have done at home and what they want to do that day. Children are eager to learn and show high levels of concentration as they fully immerse themselves in their play. They behave very well and work well in small groups. Children make potions using leaves they pick from the trees and wildflowers staff tell them are safe to use. They tell staff and visitors they have made 'blue soup' and ask if they would like to taste it.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children show excellent physical skills and capabilities. Watched by staff, they skilfully climb trees, working out where to put their feet and hands. Staff remind children that they need to have three limbs on the tree at all times, helping them to understand how to complete this task safely. Toddlers begin to use saws on wood to make patterns. Staff show them how to use these safely, and older children remind them which hand to put the glove in to keep them safe as they saw.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children's safety is potentially compromised, as staff keep their mobile phones with them while working directly with children. The manager says these are only used in the event of them needing to contact her or another member of staff in case of an emergency. However, due to staff having occasional unsupervised contact with children, she cannot be sure how and when staff's phones are used. The manager does not assess the risk of staff using the tablets at home. These contain photos and information about individual children who attend the provision. This has the potential to impact the safety and welfare of children. n Children are supported to make choices in how and where they want to play, which enables them to develop their ideas to guide their own learning. Staff ensure the curriculum offered to children promotes this. However, staff do not always notice children who need extra support or those who are less engaged in

p.2

need to do better?

their learning. Sometimes, staff do not support children as well as they could, to extend their learning. n Children enjoy nutritious snacks. They learn about the impact of healthy food on their bodies. For example, staff talk to them about the energy the food they eat will give them. All children are encouraged by staff to help prepare and make

p.2

need to do better?

23 May 2023 snacks. For example, children make pizzas from pitta bread. Children spread their own sauce and add their cheese. Staff then cook this on the open fire while children eagerly await the spoils of their hard work. n Staff know the children well and work hard to ensure their care needs are supported, helping them to feel safe and secure. They work well with other professionals to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Overall, children are supported well by staff to build the skills and knowledge required for their next steps in learning. n Staff support children well with their speech and communication skills. They introduce words such as slimy and squidgy, which children then use to describe the feel of the lard as they make bird feeders. Staff are learning Makaton sign language to enable them to support those children who are not yet using speech to express themselves.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children love exploring the outdoor play provision. They show awe and wonder at the things they find in the woods and the grass. They squeal with glee as they find various bugs and show them to the staff. Staff ask them to count the number of legs and think about what the bug might like to eat. Children use magnifying glasses to look more closely at the bugs they find and use books to find out more information about them. n Recently, there have been significant changes to the running of the provision. The manager and her staff are working hard to ensure this has as little impact as possible on the provision for children. Staff speak highly of the manager and say they feel valued and supported in their roles. Regular meetings and appraisals are offered to staff to enable them to talk through any issues and discuss any training needs. n Parents are very complimentary about the outdoor provision for children. They

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need to do better?

say staff are caring and kind and ensure that every child is included. Parents comment on the good information they receive regarding the progress their children make, as well as ideas to extend their child's learning at home. They comment on the high levels of confidence their children have developed since starting.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager does not carry out robust risk assessments to assure children's safety. She has not considered the impact of staff having access to their mobile phones while working or taking the provision's tablets home with them. However, areas the children access are safe due to good staff development, the maintenance of ratios, and staff vigilance in ensuring children's safe supervision. Children are taught to understand the boundaries of the outdoor areas they access. Staff understand how to identify signs of abuse, including female genital mutilation and indicators of extreme behaviours and radicalisation. Appropriate recruitment procedures are in place to ensure all those working with children are safe and suitable.

p.3

Due date

implement risk assessments regarding the use of mobile phones and tablets used by staff to ensure children are safeguarded and ensure these are followed and understood by all. 13/06/2023

p.4

should:

n improve staff teaching skills further to help children who require extra support to engage in their learning.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2633405 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10293536 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 40 Number of children on roll 28

p.5

Name of registered person

Little Adventurers Forest School (Walesby) Ltd

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 07817354268 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Little Adventures Forest School registered in 2021 and is located in Walesby, Newark. The provision employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications between levels 2 and 6. The provision opens Tuesday to Thursday from 8.30am to 2.30pm, term time only. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

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 completed a learning walk with the inspector and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to the children and the staff and observed their interactions. n The inspector observed the quality of education provided outdoors and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views on the provision with the inspector. n The inspector viewed 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

23 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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