Fun Farm Day Nursery

Inspection of Fun Farm Day Nursery Fun Farm, Stephenson Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN6 3QU

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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

Children of all ages have opportunities to challenge their physical skills. For example, the nursery has a soft-play zone, where staff take children to help develop their core strength, balance and coordination. Staff motivate the children to challenge themselves as they slide and climb alongside them. Children benefit from the staff's ability to recognise the uniqueness of every child. Staff respond positively to children's needs and consider their personalities, different life experiences and home routines. They interact with children sensitively, nurturing their self-esteem. Consequently, children learn to be friendly, social and outgoing individuals, who show positive attitudes towards learning.

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The provision is good

Babies thoroughly enjoy singing time. Staff enhance this experience as they use puppets and introduce musical instruments for babies to explore. Children watch in awe and learn about cause and effect as staff teach them how to make volcanic lava. Staff recognise that children like to take manageable risks and support them to understand that some risks could have consequences. For example, staff remind children that walking up the slide the wrong way may result in them slipping and hurting themselves. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress from their starting points. The special educational needs coordinators are perceptive and knowledgeable about how to meet the needs of individual children.

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need to do better?

n The staff know the children well and plan the learning environment to motivate them to play and explore. This includes providing babies with toys that encourage them to press buttons to create sounds and lights. When older toddlers show an interest in caring for baby dolls, staff nurture this interest and add dolls to water play activities. This helps toddlers learn about health and self- care as they wash them. n Staff show a genuine interest in playing alongside children and offer positive encouragement. Older children play harmoniously together as staff ask them to take turns to add bricks to build a tall tower. Equally, staff talk to toddlers about sharing resources when making play dough. n Overall, staff plan activities well. For example, they follow children's interests, offering them dough when they request to make pretend planets. Children show their good knowledge of the solar system as they recognise and name different

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need to do better?

planets. However, at times, staff do not consistently challenge children. For example, during small-group time, as children explore sinking and floating, the staff ask questions to clarify what they already know but do not support children to build on their knowledge. n Overall, staff make good use of technology in the rooms to support children's

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need to do better?

17 January 2024 understanding of the world. For example, they provide clips for children to watch of volcanoes erupting. Furthermore, staff and parents have been supported with electronic safety information. However, staff do not yet help children understand how and what to do if they identify potential risks when they use the internet or digital technology. n Management place a strong focus on staff's well-being. They support staff, mentoring and valuing them. Staff benefit from tailored professional development, such as in-house training on using sign language to communicate with children with limited language. This support has helped the children to develop their communication and language skills. n Staff gather and use keywords from parents to help them support children who speak English as an additional language (EAL). For example, they use words in children's home languages to sing popular rhymes with them. This helps children

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need to do better?

who speak EAL develop a sense of belonging in the nursery and supports their language development. n The management team have developed a strong curriculum throughout the nursery, based on what staff want the children to learn. For example, there is a focus on babies developing their physical walking skills. Staff foster toddler communication through conversations and questions. Pre-school children learn to do things for themselves, such as dressing to go outdoors. This prepares children for their future learning, such as starting school. n There are effective partnerships between parents and staff. Parents speak highly of the staff. They state the staff are supportive. Parents are pleased with the progress their children have made at nursery. Staff work hard to ensure they share ideas with parents to help them further support their children's learning and development at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n support staff to help children build on what they already know and can do n help children to identify and understand what to do if they encounter potential risks when they use the internet or digital technology.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500969 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10308607 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 89 Number of children on roll 112 Name of registered person Fun Farm (Lincoln) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01522 695553 Date of previous inspection 27 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Fun Farm Day Nursery registered in 2016 and is located in Lincoln. The nursery employs 24 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery 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 manager, area manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff and children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and looked at written testimonials and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed 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

17 January 2024 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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