Nature Wanderers Ltd

Inspection of Nature Wanderers Ltd Scout Association, Rushby Mead, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1RS

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

The quality of teaching is variable across the setting. Staff do not consistently challenge children to build on what they already know and can do. Staff know children well and build happy, secure relationships with them. They complete regular assessments on children's learning and share this information with parents. Staff devise suitable next steps in children's learning. However, they do not implement plans effectively to target children's learning. Staff do not always stretch children's thinking abilities well enough. They encourage children to fill and pour water with jugs and cups and use simple language during these interactions. That said, staff do not encourage children to explore the range of possibilities to stimulate their thinking skills. This means that children do not engage deeply in learning opportunities, to make good progress in their learning.

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The provision requires improvement

The environment is safe, and staff deploy themselves to supervise children adequately. Children enjoy being in nature and experience a range of opportunities outdoors in the woodland and garden areas to support their physical development. Children experience their whole bodies moving as they move freely on hammocks and swings. They balance on wooden planks to strengthen their core muscles. Staff provide a range of resources to develop children's hand muscles. Children show delight as they see how far they can squirt water from plastic syringes. Young children carefully pick up seeds with two fingers and place them in pots of soil to plant them. During these outdoor sessions, staff interact with children and praise them regularly. This helps children to behave appropriately.

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need to do better?

n The provider has made improvements since the last inspection. Staff consider the changing needs of the environment, which helps to ensure children's safety. There are robust security procedures and mechanisms in place on the boundary fences. Staff now complete regular assessments of children's development, including the progress check for children aged between two and three years. n There is suitable support for staff. The team is committed to developing the service that they provide to children and their families. Staff report that they are supported well by the provider and have completed a range of training to improve their knowledge. However, there is still further improvement required to develop interactions, so that children receive consistently good teaching. n The provider is now present daily and models good teaching skills and interactions with the children. She has a clear, ambitious programme for children

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need to do better?

to progress through the stages of learning. However, this is not consistently cascaded to staff. This results in inconsistent teaching as children do not receive the experiences to make good progress in their learning. For example, when children want to climb a tree branch and cannot figure out where to place their

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need to do better?

26 March 2024 foot, staff help them to get down rather than encourage them to consider where to step next. n Staff do not always take opportunities to promote children's language skills well. They follow children's lead during play but do not extend their vocabulary enough. Most interactions, while warm and energetic, lack wide and varied words that help to expand children's knowledge. For example, when playing with toy trains, staff use basic words, such as 'wow', when the magnetic couplers stick the carriages together. n Children want to take part in the opportunities available. They independently choose to be in the bell tent or outside. They play quietly in a play kitchen or use their imaginations as they actively dig to look for crystals in the dirt. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities adequately. They obtain detailed information from parents and professionals to

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need to do better?

support children's development. Staff implement activities that professionals advise to specifically support children's needs. This helps children to make sufficient progress from their starting points. n Children are generally sociable. Older children mix with younger ones and help them and model how to play. They hold down stencils so that younger children can brush mud over the shapes and enjoy exploring the mud on each other's skin. Children ask if their friends are feeling alright when they need to sit down. This helps them to learn to understand and manage their feelings. n Partnerships with parents are sufficient. Information is regularly shared between staff and parents about the children. There is regular communication about what the children are doing every day, and parents have noticed their children developing confidence.

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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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Due date

ensure that staff are clear about the intent of the curriculum and how to implement it effectively so that it provides enough challenge to help all children and meet their individual learning needs 26/06/2024

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Due date

26 March 2024 ensure that staff give children a language-rich experience to build on their communication and thinking skills 26/06/2024

p.3

Due date

ensure that the performance management programme helps staff to improve the quality of their interactions with the children. 26/06/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2741949 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10317875 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 48 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Nature Wanderers Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07379792888 Date of previous inspection 10 October 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Nature Wanderers Ltd registered in 2023. The setting is open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, during term time. It provides a holiday club during most school holidays. The setting employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The setting receives funding for the provision of early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The provider joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff, parents and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 provider and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a planned activity. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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

26 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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