Naturally Learning Blackwater

Inspection of Naturally Learning Blackwater The Old A30, Blackwater, Truro, Cornwall TR4 8EY

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children are respectfully guided by highly skilled staff in a rich learning environment. They are very curious, engaged and keen to learn. The well- embedded, highly effective and ambitious curriculum ensures that children of all ages and backgrounds make exceptional progress in their development. Managers and staff create meaningful learning opportunities that link extremely well to other activities they have created. For example, children of all ages explore the topic of weather. Pre-school children learn about the sun and its impact on our planet. Staff hold purposeful discussions with children, exploring the artist Vincent van Gogh and his painting 'Sunflowers'. Children create their own interpretation on canvas. They develop independence as they select colours and pour paint onto a palette. Pre- school children paint sunflower shadows. Staff guide children to draw the shadow of their friend's body on the ground, supporting social and creative development.

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The provision is outstanding

Children build mathematical skills as staff guide them to reflect on how a sundial works. They calculate the time, using the shadow drawings and time markers.

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The provision is outstanding

Babies happily explore different textures, such as rice and sand. They develop their hand strength as they use spoons to transfer sand between containers. Staff encourage children's language and communication skills wonderfully. They hold meaningful interactions with babies and give them plenty of time to think and respond.

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The provision is outstanding

Managers and staff place a strong importance on children's personal and emotional development. They ensure babies and older children feel secure and safe. The atmosphere in every area of the nursery is calm and relaxed. Babies enjoy listening to gentle guitar music played by staff.

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need to do better?

n The leadership team is inspirational and exceptionally knowledgeable about early childhood education and effective teaching and learning. Every year, leaders take staff on a training week, visiting nurseries in Copenhagen. Staff share their learning with colleagues when they return. A recent course focusing on music and dance has guided staff to support children to interpret words with their bodies and music. Children dance and move, exploring the word 'stormy'. Staff's extensive reflective practice guides children's experiences to build in sequence over time. At the end of each project, staff guide children through a reflection week, enabling children to remember and enjoy what they have learned. n Children develop a wonderful sense of independence and advanced personal care skills. Babies sit together at a table to eat, developing concentration, patience and social skills. Children of all ages use cutlery, developing their hand

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need to do better?

strength and coordination. Staff guide children to help chop firewood, build fires

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need to do better?

29 July 2024 and cook crumpets on the fire. Children know how to be safe in these areas. They show high levels of concentration, self-control and perseverance. n Staff well-being is extremely important to leaders. Staff report that they love working here and feel fully supported by leaders and managers. They report that their work and opinions are highly valued. Leaders provide excellent working conditions and regular team-building days, for example wreath-making activities at Christmas. Staff retention is exemplary. Leaders recognise the positive impact this has on children's relationships and learning journeys. n Guiding children to eat a nutritious, balanced diet and develop healthy eating habits is a core element of the nursery ethos. The cook is a central part of the nursery. Curriculum planning is shared with the cook, who creates meals and snacks that superbly complement the daily activities. Toddlers and babies are

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need to do better?

provided with a wonderful platter of darkly coloured fruits, such as figs, blackberries and plums, at snack time, in line with their 'storm' project. n Leaders passionately ensure the nursery is accessible to all members of the community. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are wonderfully supported and make exceptional progress from their starting points. The special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) is passionate about their role, extremely knowledgeable and experienced. They have undertaken extensive training in understanding and supporting neurodiversity. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make exceptional progress in their learning and development. Leaders support the SENDCo to visit other nurseries in Devon and Cornwall to train other practitioners in best SEND practice. n The nursery ethos has a strong focus on sustainability and care for the

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need to do better?

environment. All staff and children are guided to 'reduce, re-use and recycle'. Leaders guide staff to help children explore habitat, respect their environment and to become stewards of the planet. Children enjoy growing plants and explaining how they care for the planet. Every day, staff take small groups of children to spend the day in the nursery's forest school. Children develop their awareness of the outdoors and nature and build their confidence and self- esteem.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number 2681858 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 10350790 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 65 Number of children on roll 150 Name of registered person Naturally Learning Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07769342133 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Naturally Learning Blackwater registered in 2022 and operates from the village of Blackwater, Cornwall. There are 21 staff who work with the children, including the manager. Of these, three have level 7 childcare qualifications, one has a level 6 qualification, one has a level 5 qualification, nine have level 3 qualifications, one has a level 2 qualification and six are unqualified. The setting is open between 7.30am and 6pm from Monday to Friday, throughout the year. The nursery is funded to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years old.

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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 owner and the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The owner, the manager and the inspector completed a learning walk of the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. 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 carried out a joint observation of an activity with the owner and the manager and they evaluated this together. n The inspector spoke to, and read feedback from, parents and gathered their

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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

29 July 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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