Colourbox@Redwoods

Inspection of Colourbox@Redwoods Nowton Park Centre, Bury Road, Nowton, Bury St. Edmunds IP29 5BD

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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

The forest school provides children with awe and wonder in every aspect of the environment. Children are enamoured with their surroundings and arrive excited, ready to explore and investigate. Children and their parents are warmly welcomed by staff. For example, when children arrive with items of interest, such as a leaf, they eagerly show them to staff, who immediately take an interest and begin a conversation. This provides a seamless transition for children. The children are nurtured by the dedicated staff team and have a real sense of belonging. The staff have thoughtfully designed the area to allow children to make independent choices about where they want to play.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff have extremely high expectations and create a curriculum that challenges children to the highest level. Their curriculum is based on forest school and the Montessori approach with staff trained in both. The children respond very well and are highly motivated to engage with the resources and the surrounding environment. They are curious and ask lots of questions, eager to seek a response to extend their knowledge. Children love to experiment in the mud kitchen and carefully select the plants they want to add. They use their physical skills to transfer the 'tea' from a cup to a jar and show great control as they pour to fill it right to the top but not spill it.

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need to do better?

n Staff interactions are of consistently high quality. Staff take pride in knowing all the children and their interests. They impart their enthusiasm for learning to the children, who are equally excited to investigate. Staff are repetitive in their approach to help children consolidate and embed learning. n Children's growing vocabulary is a key area of focus for staff. They use correct terminology. For example, when talking about butterflies they name the species rather than referring to them by the collective name. Children enjoy familiar stories. Staff make these highly engaging as they ask the children to act out certain parts, for example running on the spot as the character in the book does. n Staff teach children how to recognise animal and reptile prints by counting the digits and looking carefully at a selection of prints to identify them, for example, a squirrel and a snake. Children can tell staff that a snake slithers so has no

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need to do better?

digits, which demonstrates their deep understanding. n Children have excellent mathematical skills, as mathematics is expertly threaded through everyday activities. Problem-solving is a key aspect. Staff are expertly skilled at asking the right questions to enable children to find their own solution, so they think critically for themselves. Children regularly count in their play. Staff encourage them to add and subtract when children join or leave the group. n Staff set up activities that allow children to exert themselves physically. For

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need to do better?

4 December 2024 example, with staff, children use a bow saw to cut a piece of wood successfully. Staff test children's knowledge and understanding of the safety precautions and ask pertinent questions to ensure that every child is fully aware of the risks. Children can tell an adult that the blade is sharp and which parts of the saw to hold to use it safely, which shows an exceptional understanding of how to keep safe. n Lunch is a time to enhance children's social experience and replicate a family meal. Food is positioned in the centre of the table. All children use utensils with ease, serving their food onto their plate. Staff promote healthy lifestyles. The food is nutritious and cooked daily, and all children drink water. Partnerships with parents are excellent. Staff provide parents with information about their child's day as well as reports detailing their child's development. n The provider has very secure systems in place to support staff's well-being. Staff

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need to do better?

have regular supervision sessions, allowing them to reflect on their needs. Training is quickly identified to allow staff to continue to develop their in-depth knowledge. The provider has an excellent awareness of the strengths and areas for development in this provision. They set ambitious goals for ongoing improvements, which include potential expansion of the site.

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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 2695407 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10363670 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 30 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Colourbox Montessori School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07981396417 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Colourbox@Redwoods registered in 2022 and is situated in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. It is one of eight settings run by the same management team. It is a forest school that follows the Montessori approach to education. The setting employs nine members of childcare staff. Five staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above and three are unqualified. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 8am until 5.15pm on Monday and Wednesday, and from 8.45am until 4.15pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

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Inspection activities

n One of the senior managers and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection and completed a joint observation with one of the senior managers. n The inspector held a meeting with the management team. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation. n Parents shared their views of the forest school with the inspector.

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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

4 December 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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