The Old Potting Shed

Inspection of The Old Potting Shed Combe Lodge, Blagdon, North Somerset BS40 7RE

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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

The manager organises a broad curriculum to meet the learning and development needs of all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The curriculum has a strong emphasis on children's personal, social, and emotional development. Staff use baby yoga sessions to provide a calm activity where babies develop strong bonds with their key person so that they feel safe and secure. Staff are consistently respectful to children and role model their expectations of behaviour. As a result, children behave well, are kind to each other and have very positive attitudes towards their learning.

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The provision is good

Staff regularly observe children and make assessments of their progress so that they can plan activities to build on what children already know and what will interest them. Staff are always on hand to support and extend play ideas. For example, when children want to dress dollies, staff sensitively allow time for children to try to do this by themselves. This encourages children to persevere and practise new skills.

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The provision is good

Baby room staff sing songs very clearly and use signs and actions to help babies understand the meaning of the words they hear. Babies learn to listen, imitate the actions and gain a sense of rhythm and rhyme. This helps develop their early communication and language skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's language development by extending conversations. For example, they talk to children who are playing with dollies about what real babies do and need. Staff skilfully read stories, allowing time to explore the pictures to help children understand, answer questions and make predictions. Staff link a picture of whale's teeth to extend what children know about looking after their own teeth. This leads to conversations about oral health, including visiting a dentist, and eating healthy food. n In the garden, staff engage children in activities using clay and natural materials they had previously collected, such as petals, sticks, and sprigs of rosemary. The children learn that the clay is hard to push with their fingers, but they discover that it supports the sticks well. Staff tell them that the clay will harden if left to dry. The children are excited that they can take their creations home later and

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need to do better?

say they will do this by 'special delivery'. n Children exercise their muscles by digging big holes in the mud and challenge themselves to transport heavy buckets of water in wheelbarrows. Young children sit on the ground learning to roll balls to each other. These opportunities help to develop children's physical skills very well. However, the outside area does not fully support all aspects of the curriculum to benefit those children who learn

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need to do better?

22 March 2024 better outdoors. n Staff promote children's independence skills well. For example, they encourage babies to use spoons when eating. Staff provide activities to further develop children's hand coordination. For example, the show them how to use pipettes to squeeze vinegar onto bicarbonate of soda to create 'fizzies' that children proudly show to their friends. This also helps children learn to do things by themselves. n The curriculum focuses well on promoting children's healthy lifestyles. Children benefit from eating healthy foods provided by the nursery. Staff show children how to dispose of tissues hygienically and when to wash their hands. Staff teach children about recycling and caring for the environment. Children gain valuable experiences from walking around the grounds of the estate, including a wooded area, where they enjoy fresh air, explore nature and study the seasonal changes.

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need to do better?

n Knowledgeable and experienced staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) very well. Staff work closely with parents and professional agencies to put in place targeted support to help all children make the best possible progress and prepare them for the next stage of their learning journey. Parents are pleased with the excellent communication and support they receive from the nursery. n Leaders and managers share a positive ethos towards continuing quality improvement. They consistently offer excellent support for staff well-being and maintain high levels of training opportunities. This has resulted in staff using natural materials in children's play to provide more opportunities for them to use their imagination.

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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 develop the curriculum in the outside areas to further extend the learning experiences of children who learn better outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2663313 Local authority North Somerset Inspection number 10332999 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 78 Number of children on roll 79 Name of registered person Bridgwater Young Men's Christian Association

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reference number

Telephone number 01761 462209 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Old Potting Shed registered in October 2021. It operates from two buildings within the grounds of Combe Lodge Estate in Blagdon, Somerset. The setting is open from 8am until 6pm all year round. They receives early years funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds. There are 21 staff employed, of whom four hold qualified teacher status, one is qualified to level 6, two at level 5, five at level 3, two at level 2 and seven who are unqualified.

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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 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 during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an outdoor activity. n The inspector took account of parents' views, both verbal and written.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at relevant documentation.

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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

22 March 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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