Nest In The Woods Adlington

Inspection of Nest In The Woods Adlington Brookledge Lane Jn. Springbank Lane, Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 4JX

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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 Good

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The provision is good

The manager has successfully developed her setting as an outdoor provision. Children succeed in their learning in this unique woodland setting. They develop a thrill for learning new and meaningful knowledge from the expert staff. For instance, staff help children skilfully to learn how to tie hitch knots, make a hammock swing and identify woodland creatures correctly. Staff support children ably to develop their confidence. For instance, children experiment with climbing the slope of a hill aided by a rope. Children quickly become experts at these tasks. They relish opportunities to show visitors, such as the inspector, their well- developed skills and knowledge. Children learn well.

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The provision is good

Staff spend time getting to know each child's abilities, needs and interests. They build trusting relationships with children and their families from the start. This helps children to settle, feel safe and be ready to learn. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and children understand how their actions impact others. Staff are particularly effective at helping children to manage their own behaviour. They explain to children sensitively why some behaviours are not acceptable. Children are happy and sensible.

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need to do better?

n The manager has established ambitious aims for her curriculum to help children to learn well in her woodland setting. For instance, she seeks to inspire children's questions and curiosity about the natural environment. As a result, children become inquisitive explorers, keen to try new and challenging tasks and wanting to learn new information. n The manager has identified the broad areas of knowledge that children will develop through her curriculum. However, in some areas of learning, she has not pinpointed the essential knowledge that children will learn. She has also not thought enough about the order in which children will learn some important concepts. This means that some of children's learning does not always build well on their previous knowledge. n The children talk with staff in back-and-forth discussions about their many play ideas, interests and woodland discoveries. The manager and staff support

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need to do better?

children's language skills well. They model the use of new and interesting words in meaningful ways. For example, when eating apples, children learn new words such as 'stalk' and 'calyx'. Children develop the vocabulary that they need to be able to talk with accuracy about their learning. They become confident talkers. n Staff are particularly skilful at helping children to think and consider ideas carefully. For example, staff use open-ended questions to provoke children to think about their answers and to test out their own theories. Children learn how to solve problems, such as how high to tie the hammock to the trees to ensure

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need to do better?

4 October 2023 that it swings. n Children learn from the expert staff about how to live a healthy life. They learn that vegetables and fruits are important to eat and that it is essential to be physically active. Children understand that cleaning their hands before eating their packed lunch is important. n Mostly, staff support children to develop their independence skills successfully. However, on occasions, staff do not always support children to learn the importance of self-care and taking responsibility for their own tasks. For example, staff do not always give children the opportunity to have a go for themselves before providing support with tasks such as pouring milk, giving out cups or slicing apples. n Parents said that they share the manager's passion for children's outdoor learning. They welcome hearing about their children's learning from the knowledgeable staff. The regular information that staff provide for parents about

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need to do better?

their children's learning helps them to support their children at home. n The manager supports staff well. She coaches staff regularly to help refine the quality of their work with the children. Staff thoroughly enjoy working at the setting. However, the manager has not given enough consideration to staff training. This means, for example, that staff's knowledge about some areas of learning is not as well developed as for other areas.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager deploys staff effectively in the woodland areas of this outdoor setting to ensure that children are supervised well. She ensures that all staff attend training about safeguarding. Staff know the possible signs that may indicate a child is experiencing neglect or abuse. They are knowledgeable about the action they must take to protect a child from harm. The manager and staff help children to notice risks and think about how to act, such as waiting until the busy slide is clear before whizzing down. Children learn how to act safely.

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should:

n strengthen staff knowledge of how to develop children's independence skills so that children acquire more self-confidence and responsibility n increase opportunities for staff to learn about the different areas of learning so their knowledge is enhanced and always up to date n identify more clearly the essential knowledge that children will learn and the order in which they will learn it.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551673 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 10309990 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 22

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Name of registered person

Nest In The Woods Community Interest Company

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reference number

Telephone number 07594 160118 Date of previous inspection 12 February 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Nest In The Woods Adlington registered in 2017 and is in the Adlington area of Macclesfield, Cheshire. The setting employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate childcare qualifications. The setting is open from 9.15am to 3.15pm, Wednesday and Thursday, term time only. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 leaders and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager, who is also the provider, and inspector completed a learning walk together of the outdoor woodland setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n Staff spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity in the woodland area with the manager. n The inspector observed children's learning of the curriculum and assessed the impact that this has on their learning. n The inspector looked at a sample of documentation provided by the manager and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery.

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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

4 October 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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