Into the Ark Forest School Scarisbrick

Inspection of Into the Ark Forest School Scarisbrick Dam Wood, Dam Lane, Hall Road, Scarisbrick, West Lancashire L40 9QD

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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 show excitement when they arrive at the inclusive outdoor setting and greet their friends. They are very happy and settled. Nurturing and respectful staff are very supportive in their interactions with children. All children develop close attachments with staff. They are affectionate and give staff lots of cuddles. The learning environment inspires children's curiosity. Older children excitedly call staff to show them what they have made. They use critical-thinking skills when they build a mudslide with pieces of wood and scoop the mud using spades. Toddlers make imaginative creations using a range of open-ended materials such as twigs and twine. Staff respond positively, which motivates the children.

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The provision is good

The well-qualified staff skilfully use their knowledge of child development and forest school approaches to plan for each child's learning. Children are keen to lead their own play. They explore the forest area and investigate the activities that staff provide. Staff are passionate about books and they share this with the children. Toddlers take books to staff to read and show their understanding as they point at pictures. Children have a great time and engage in all there is to offer. High priority is given to helping children learn how to behave well. Toddlers are developing their turn-taking skills, aided sensitively by staff who help them to share. Children are making good progress in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are highly ambitious about providing outdoor education that supports children in all areas of their learning. They have worked hard to produce and embed a progressive curriculum. Staff get to know the children very well. They use children's interests to plan new and exciting opportunities to extend what they know and can do. Children are very confident learners. n Staff enable children to take ownership of their learning, for instance by using resources in imaginative ways. They offer children a wide range of natural materials which they use to practise their fine motor skills. For instance, children develop their control of scissors when they cut up leaves and twigs. They use sticks to make marks and explore patterns in the mud and clay. This helps to develop their early writing skills. n Staff provide tailored care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders work closely with external agencies to seek

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need to do better?

additional guidance, assess and identify emerging needs. Staff implement individual plans that identify additional strategies to support learning. Children with SEND make good progress alongside their peers. n Staff support children to understand the world. They teach them to respect the environment and to care for living things. Children take account of the changing seasons. They show kindness as they care for chickens and ponies. Staff also

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need to do better?

28 November 2023 teach the children about different cultures and beliefs. They promote equality and children learn to understand what makes them unique. n Physical development is given high priority. Children enjoy being immersed in forest school activities, and the fully outdoor area has been developed to support this area of the curriculum. The environment is used well and enables children to continuously build on their physical skills. For example, children learn to balance in the woodland areas using hammocks and when climbing trees. Very young children are confident and capable of climbing in and out of hammocks and older children balance on beams over trenches. n Leaders conduct regular staff supervision sessions and consider staff's well- being. Leaders observe staff's practice and suggest areas for further development. However, this is not always sharply focused on building consistently high-quality interactions that contribute to the delivery of the

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need to do better?

curriculum intentions. n Parents are very complimentary about the setting. They say how open and friendly staff are. They speak highly of the setting and the unique opportunities that staff provide for children. Staff provide parents with detailed accounts of their secure understanding of each child's progress. Parents report that they are very well informed. This helps them to know how to continue to support children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand the signs that indicate a child may be at risk of harm or abuse. They know their responsibilities to safeguard all children. Staff understand the referral procedures that they need to follow should they have a concern about a child or the conduct of a colleague. The provider has robust procedures to help ensure the safe recruitment of staff. Staff conduct thorough daily risk assessments to keep the children safe. For example, they identify and share clear boundaries within the forest area, which the children understand and follow. Staff encourage children to take calculated risks. Children move around the setting carefully. They understand the safety rules when they are around the firepit and when they use tools to chop wood.

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should:

n strengthen the quality of supervision sessions and sharply focus on developing individual staff's delivery of the curriculum intent.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2645484 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10301488 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 37 Name of registered person Into The Ark Forest School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07968196629 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Into the Ark Forest School Scarisbrick registered in 2021. The setting operates each weekday from 9.15am to 3.15pm, during term times. It also operates during some school holidays for children who are home educated and are aged up to 14 years. The setting employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 2, four at level 3 and two at level 6 with qualified teacher status. 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 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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the setting. n The provider joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing when they are at the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

28 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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