Natural Wonder - Earlywood

Inspection of Natural Wonder - Earlywood Earlywood Scout Campsite, Bagshot Road, Ascot SL5 9JP

p.1

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

p.1

The provision is inadequate

There are weaknesses in the arrangements to safeguard children, which compromise their safety and welfare. The manager has not followed the correct procedures to manage safeguarding concerns. Staff and volunteers also do not have secure safeguarding knowledge. In addition, unchecked volunteers are sometimes left unsupervised with children. Despite this, children enjoy the forest school experience that the setting provides and teaching is effective.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Staff have considered ways to make the learning environment more accessible for all children. For instance, they have introduced visual prompts during the initial welcome group time. This helps children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to remember important information, such as the forest school rules. This promotes group discussions and children enjoy sharing their knowledge. Staff support children to wait their turn to speak by encouraging them to hold up their thumbs if they have something to say. This enables children to understand how they are expected to behave. Children show positive behaviour as they listen to their friends and wait patiently while they wait to speak.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

Children learn to take appropriate risks with guidance from staff. For example, children enjoy using tools to cut up pieces of cardboard. Staff remind them how to use the equipment safely, which supports children to develop an understanding of how to manage risks for themselves.

p.2

need to do better?

n The manager recognises the signs and symptoms of abuse. However, she has not referred child protection concerns in a timely manner. She also has not ensured that all staff and volunteers have secure safeguarding knowledge. The manager understands her responsibilities to check the suitability of staff and volunteers. She assesses the risks of unchecked adults working with children. However, she does not implement the plans to reduce any risks effectively. This results in adults without appropriate suitability checks having unsupervised contact with children. This does not ensure children's safety and welfare. n The manager and staff share their knowledge and expertise with each other. This has a positive impact on the quality of experiences that children receive. For instance, the special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) supports staff to implement effective teaching strategies for children with SEND.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff review children's progress on a termly basis. This enables them to identify what children have learned and what they want them to learn next. Staff share this information with parents so that they can work together to promote children's development. n Staff help children to settle when they arrive in the morning. For instance, they

p.2

need to do better?

17 April 2024 welcome children during their initial chat around the 'fire circle'. Staff encourage them to introduce themselves and think of an animal that begins with the same letter as their first name. Staff support younger children to join in with this activity, which enables them to develop their confidence. n Staff plan activities that spark children's creativity. Staff introduce activities well which helps children to understand what they are expected to do. For example, staff explain that they will be creating their own 'flick painting' pictures. Children demonstrate high levels of curiosity and engagement as they decide how to create their artwork. However, sometimes staff do not recognise when to interact with children. This does not fully enable staff to extend children's learning even further. n Children enjoy listening to books being read by staff. Children eagerly gather round and focus their attention on the story. Staff encourage them to talk about

p.2

need to do better?

what they know about the book, which promotes children's language skills. n Staff support children to learn about their world around them. For example, when children find a seed and plant it in the ground, staff encourage them to think about how to take care of it. This helps children to learn about how to care for nature. n Children benefit from teaching that helps them to develop an understanding of how to resolve conflicts for themselves. For example, staff encourage them to think about the impact of their behaviour. Children respond positively and this helps them to regulate their behaviour. n Staff implement strategies that enable children to make their own choices. This includes introducing a 'choices board', where children can select which resources they would like to play with. This provides children with opportunities to follow their interests and engage in their learning environment.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

ensure designated safeguarding leads have a secure understanding of when to make referrals 01/05/2024

p.3

Due date

17 April 2024 ensure all adults working with children have a robust knowledge of the procedures to follow to manage child protection concerns and allegations against adults 01/05/2024

p.3

Due date

ensure adults without suitability checks are not left unsupervised with children. 01/05/2024

p.4

should:

n support staff to engage with children during group activities to extend learning even further.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2652772 Local authority Windsor and Maidenhead Inspection number 10333051 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 15 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person The Natural Wonder Project CIC

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 07810810225 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Natural Wonder - Earlywood is based in Ascot, Berkshire. The setting is open Monday and Wednesday, between 9.30am and 3pm, term time only. There are currently three employed members of staff working with children, two of whom have qualified teacher status. There are also three unqualified parent volunteers who work alongside staff. The setting accepts funding for four-year-olds.

p.5

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 Staff and volunteers spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The SENDCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided outdoors and assessed the impact that this had on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

17 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7