Wild Days Lodge

Inspection of Wild Days Lodge The Lodge, 544 The Wells Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG3 3AB

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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

Staff place a strong emphasis on outdoor learning, where they create an enticing environment which children confidently explore. Toddlers use their muscles as they use trowels to scoop up wood chippings and pour them into small baskets. Others use their legs to push themselves along on bicycles and tractors. Pre-school children politely ask staff if they can roll down the slope. Staff encourage children to check that the area is safe. Children readily work with staff to remove small rocks and branches from the ground. Children giggle with their friends as they take turns to roll down the hillside. This helps children learn how to play safely.

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The provision is good

Children are inquisitive about the world around them. They ask staff why the tree stumps are not heavy. Staff introduce new vocabulary, explaining bugs have 'burrowed' inside the stump and eaten it to make it 'hollow'. Staff teach children how to build a campfire. Children listen intently to staff instructions, waiting patiently for their turn to use the flint to create a spark. Staff ensure children are supervised as they light the fire. When children struggle, staff provide a helping hand. This helps support children's growing curiosity and builds on their emerging interests.

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need to do better?

n Parents speak positively about the care their children receive. They value the multiple outdoor activities their children have access to. Parents say they have developed good relationships with staff. For example, staff share information and strategies to help them with toilet training their children at home. They state that their children have grown in confidence and are making good progress in their social skills. n Staff are good role models. They remind children to use their manners, help each other and share resources. Staff are vigilant and swiftly intervene when necessary. For example, staff explain to toddlers that throwing wood chips at their friends' faces may hurt them. This helps children learn about the impact of their actions on others. n Children enjoy group time. Pre-school children gather with their friends to listen to staff read a story about a friendly monster. Children confidently point out

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need to do better?

animals in the pictures. Staff pose questions to children about how the characters may be feeling. Toddlers enjoy singing familiar rhymes with staff. Children shake tambourines and bells as staff sing. This helps children develop a love of books, songs and rhymes. n In general, staff offer good support for children's learning. For example, staff engage with children during their play to build on what they want them to learn next. However, at times, staff do not deploy themselves well enough. This means children sometimes lack support from staff to consistently extend their

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need to do better?

2 February 2024 play and learning. n Staff provide children with healthy snacks, meals and fresh drinking water. Children are reminded to wash their hands before meals, after wiping their nose and after using the toilet. Staff work with parents to manage children's allergies, dietary requirements and intolerances. There is an established process in place to ensure this information is safely communicated across the nursery. n Overall, staff encourage children's developing independence skills. For example, pre-school children wipe their faces after meals and collect their own water bottles. In addition, toddlers readily help staff tidy away resources. However, opportunities for children to do things for themselves are not always used consistently. For example, staff are quick to complete tasks for children that they can do for themselves, this includes taking lids off yogurts, taking away dirty plates and cups, and putting rubbish in the bin. This affects how children learn

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need to do better?

to do things for themselves. n Leaders and managers are reflective. They regularly evaluate their provision, which includes gathering feedback from parents. Managers value staff members' continuing professional development and have recently introduced a new system to monitor this. Staff receive training on forest school teaching and sessions on how to use equipment safely. Staff say they enjoy working at the setting.

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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 strengthen the deployment of staff in order to provide consistent and purposeful interactions for children, which build on their existing skills and knowledge n provide more consistent opportunities for children to do things for themselves to promote their independence further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2680961 Local authority Nottingham Inspection number 10327793 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Wild Days Lodge Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07800814618 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Wild Days Lodge is located in Mapperley, Nottingham. It registered in 2022. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3, and one holds Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, 8am till 6pm, all year round. 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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 observed the interactions between staff and children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector 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

2 February 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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