Forest Friends Childcare

Inspection of Forest Friends Childcare Marsh House Sports And Community Centre, Marsh House Avenue, Billingham TS23 3HB

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

The provider is absolutely committed to the service which the nursery provides. Staff are well qualified and highly knowledgeable, and implement an ambitious curriculum successfully. Children flourish and thrive in the inspiring and enabling learning environment, which staff provide for them. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are highly motivated and demonstrate excellent levels of self- control. Children show high levels of care and compassion towards their friends. For example, they happily give up a toy to make a friend happy. This is because staff are wonderful role models for children. They communicate extremely well and are consistent in the way they gently manage children's behaviour. Staff consistently support children to have consideration for others' feelings and regularly provide children with positive praise. This helps to raise children's confidence and self-esteem extremely successfully.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding that all children need physical strength to engage in activities and to attempt new skills. Children and babies learn to use their bodies very effectively during their play. Toddlers investigate how they can move planks to safely climb and balance. Older children develop small muscles in their hands as they pinch pipettes in water to make a pretend cup of tea. Staff carefully organise the indoor and outdoor spaces, so children are free to access a very wide and exciting range of toys and experiences.

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need to do better?

n Staff are extremely skilled and enthusiastic as they expertly guide children's learning. They use skilful questioning to support children's thinking, and to help them to make connections and solve problems. This helps children to concentrate for exceptional periods of time as they develop their play. For instance, children persevere well when they find it tricky to use a hammer to tap nails into different-sized pumpkins and vegetables. n All staff, including new members of the team, demonstrate a deep understanding of how to build on children's growing independence and social skills. For example, they help children to practise and extend their developing language with high-quality, back-and-forth interactions and sign language during circle and story times. Children make excellent progress in their speaking, listening and attention skills. n The provider and staff carefully observe and consult as a team to ensure that

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need to do better?

they meet each child's needs successfully. They work very closely with parents and any professionals involved with children. This excellent commitment to inclusion ensures that staff shape the educational programmes and environment with all children's needs in mind. This helps all children to make the best possible progress.

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need to do better?

2 November 2023 n There is an excellent key-person system, which supports the development of strong relationships at all levels. Children and babies receive great levels of care. Staff create a very caring and nurturing learning environment for children. This helps children to feel safe and secure within the early days of attending or when moving rooms. This fully supports children's emotional well-being. n Staff work hard to ensure that children develop the fundamental British values needed to help them to become effective future citizens and work together. Staff actively embed golden rules, such as 'kindness' and 'sharing is caring', in their practice. They are very focused on supporting children to recognise and communicate their feelings, such as voicing their opinions and using voting to help to make decisions. As a result, children demonstrate very high levels of respect for others. n Staff consistently promote healthy lifestyles. Children benefit from nutritious

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need to do better?

meals. They learn about the vitamins and minerals their bodies need to stay healthy. Children know to drink fresh water when they feel thirsty. Staff nurture children's independence from a very early age. Children develop a strong sense of responsibility, such as when they help to prepare the table for meals and manage their self-care needs extremely well. n Children and their families are at the heart of this exemplary nursery. Staff are very aware of the need to support parents, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic climate. Parents are highly appreciative of the substantial support they receive. They say that staff are amazing and share details of enjoyable learning activities that they can do at home with their children, to help to continue their children's rapid progress. n The provider and management team accurately evaluate the nursery to help to identify specific aspects they would like to enhance. For example, they have

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need to do better?

added an allotment and a separate sensory room to improve outcomes for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). n Additionally, the provider and management team have swiftly reviewed policies and increased the security measurements in place inside the building. This followed an incident where a child was able to leave their room and play in the secure reception area. Staff use a biometric access-control system to ensure that only parents or invited visitors have access into the building.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is is an open, vigilant safeguarding culture across the nursery. Staff know the signs and symptoms which could indicate a child is at risk of harm and can confidently explain the procedures they would follow. Staff attend regular safeguarding training, and managers use scenarios to test out their knowledge. The provider implements ongoing suitability checks to ensure that all staff are suitable. She makes sure that the nursery is always safe and hygienic for children, such as staff complete daily risk assessments. Staff involve children in this process. This helps to develop children's knowledge of managing risks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY560246 Local authority Stockton-on-Tees Inspection number 10313114 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 60 Number of children on roll 106 Name of registered person Forest Friends Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01642 566718 Date of previous inspection 27 July 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Forest Friends Childcare registered in 2018. It is situated in a private space within Marsh House Community Centre in Billingham. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, five staff have relevant early years qualifications at level 6, two at level 5, thirteen at level 3 and two at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, apart from bank holidays and two weeks at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The provider 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 observed the quality of education across all age-groups during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. She discussed children's learning and development with the provider, staff and the manager responsible for children with SEND. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do at the nursery. They discussed the rules and boundaries in the nursery. n Parents' shared their views of the nursery with the inspector in person and through digital messages. n The provider and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a group activity.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector held a meeting with the provider and members of the management team. She discussed and looked at relevant documentation for keeping children safe, including accidents, incidents and managing children's allergies. The inspector looked at the complaints record. She viewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in 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

2 November 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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