Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre

Inspection of Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre Greatwood Farm, Ponton Road, Boothby Pagnell, Grantham, Lincs NG33 4DH

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children of all ages demonstrate that they feel safe, secure and enjoy attending the nursery. They have close relationships with the staff who care for them. Upon arrival, children confidently leave their parents at their room door and wave goodbye. Babies and toddlers receive cuddles and reassurance as needed throughout the day.

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The provision is good

Staff know children well, they use their knowledge of the children's interests and learning needs to plan activities that children are eager to engage in. Children are developing a keen interest in the natural world. They enjoy taking part in daily forest school sessions and walks around the farm and woodlands. Staff use these adventures to support children to learn about different animals and insects. When pre-school children find insects, staff encourage them to use a reference chart to correctly identify and name the insect. Staff extend children's learning and promote children's use of mathematics. They support children to keep a tally of how many of each type of insect they find.

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The provision is good

Staff promote children's communication and language well. They ask children questions to gain information about their prior knowledge and understanding. Upon discovering a bee, the staff support and encourage children's curiosity. Children tell the staff that they think the bee is making pollen. Staff provide children with factual books so they can learn about where bees collect pollen from and how they use the pollen.

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need to do better?

n The manager has designed a well-sequenced curriculum that reflects the uniqueness of the farm and woodland environment where the nursery is located. Staff support children to enjoy nature and the countryside, be happy and healthy, be creative and solve problems and celebrate individuality. Staff regularly observe children to make sure that they are making progress in all areas of their learning and development. n Staff have regular supervision and receive feedback on their practice. The management team are responsive to the needs of staff and ensure that their well-being is supported. Staff comment that they feel lucky to work at such a unique and special nursery. n Staff promptly recognise the signs that some children may need additional help and support with their learning or development. They work closely with parents and other professionals to provide targeted support that helps individual children

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need to do better?

make progress. The manager ensures that additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, is effectively used to benefit the children who receive it. n Staff meet children's health needs well. Children spend lots of time outdoors in

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need to do better?

2 April 2024 fresh air being physically active. They rest and sleep according to their individual routine. Staff closely supervise sleeping children to ensure that they remain safe. Staff provide children with freshly cooked, healthy and nutritional meals that meet children's individual dietary requirements. n Parents say that their children enjoy attending the nursery. They are very well informed about the time their child spends at the nursery and how their child is developing. Children comment that they enjoy playing with their friends, going for walks in the woods, taking part in messy play and creative activities and bottle feeding the lambs. n During forest school sessions, staff encourage the children to remember the rules that are in place to help keep them safe. Pre-school children are aware that they must not enter the area where the campfire is unless invited to do so with an adult. However, staff are not always consistent with their expectations for

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need to do better?

behaviour. For example, when toddlers are asked to put toys away, they carry on playing. The staff put the toys away for them. n Children join in enthusiastically as staff sing nursery rhymes with them. They demonstrate that they know the words and actions to familiar songs. However, occasionally during the implementation of group activities staff do not always ensure that what they have planned is suitable for all children. Some children find it difficult to remain focused and engaged. n Staff provide opportunities for children of all ages to develop their creative skills. Babies explore the texture of mud with their hands and paint brushes. Toddlers help staff make play dough, they use their fingers to draw patterns in the excess flour on the table. Pre-school children use paint and brushes to create pictures of frogs. As the children paint and draw, they practise the control that they will eventually need for early writing.

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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 children's understanding of behaviour expectations and ensure that these expectations are consistently applied n review the implementation of group activities, to help all children remain engaged and focused.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY545446 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10295140 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 154 Number of children on roll 162 Name of registered person Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01476 585584 Date of previous inspection 2 May 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre, located in Boothby Pagnell, Grantham, registered in 2017. The nursery employs 50 members of childcare staff. Of these, 34 hold at least a level 3 qualification. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 8am to 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 The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation 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 The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the provider 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 Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The provider 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 April 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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