Windmill Hill City Farm

Inspection of Windmill Hill City Farm Philip Street, Bedminster, Bristol, Avon BS3 4EA

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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 Good

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The provision is good

On arrival, children rush into the nursery, excited to see friends and find activities to play with. They feel safe and secure. Staff build strong connections, and children often invite them to play in their games. Staff understand early years education and how children learn.

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The provision is good

Staff support children to listen to music often, both indoors and outdoors, learning about songs, tone and rhythm. Staff play soothing music to help babies feel calm. Outdoors, pre-school children listen to staff play guitar songs. They dance and learn to move their bodies to music, improving coordination. The nursery has outdoor areas for different age groups, plus a large shared outdoor space, where children of all ages mix during the day. Siblings spend time together, and older children enjoy interacting with babies. This supports them to develop social skills. Staff help children see how their behaviour affects others and the importance of being gentle with smaller children. On a picnic rug, children of all ages sit together to make pretend cupcakes, sharing and encouraging each other in their play.

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The provision is good

The nursery sits within a city farm and children hear cows mooing and ducks quacking as they play. Staff regularly take children to visit the animals, boosting their understanding of farm life and nature. Children meet newly born kid goats and lambs, learning about life cycles. Staff support democracy in the nursery and children know their opinions matter. For example, pre-school children vote on trips they can take. As a result, staff recently took children on a walk to the nearby railway station, building children's local knowledge.

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need to do better?

n Trained staff with outdoor learning skills guide older children as they play in a small woodland area. Children discover insects hiding under logs. Staff help build the children's vocabulary by describing the 'sparkly slime' of a slug trail. Children learn to recognise different types of birds and their birdsong, for example a robin and blackbird. They confidently count and recognise numerals to 10. n There is a strong focus on guiding children to develop their physical skills. Under adult supervision children climb low trees, which helps them develop coordination and strength. They improve their balance by walking along tree trunks and obstacle courses. However, staff sometimes bring out equipment that is not suitable for the environment. For example, toddlers try to ride tricycles, but the woodchip-covered ground makes it impossible to ride vehicles with wheels. Sometimes, children become frustrated.

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need to do better?

n Children are encouraged to develop their independence skills. Following naptime, toddlers are responsible for collecting their clothes from their baskets before getting dressed. Older children learn to use cutlery to eat and then clear their

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need to do better?

28 April 2025 plates before putting away their crockery. Children are taught to be kind to one another and share. They are curious learners and concentrate well. Staff help children understand how their behaviour impacts those around them. n Staff understand the importance of building children's communication skills. They engage pre-school children in rich conversations, and older children eagerly explain what they are doing or what they already know. Babies are supported to spend time babbling and listening to books and stories. However, in the toddler room, staff ask questions that only require brief answers, not giving children enough time to think and respond. When this happens, toddlers do not consistently develop their communication skills further or explore their own ideas and interests. n Staff feel valued in their roles and work well together as a team, particularly during communal outdoor play times. They are confident in the curriculum and

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need to do better?

monitor children's progress well. Managers develop links with other early years settings, sharing best practice and training. For instance, they welcome staff from other provisions to learn about their effective outdoor play approach for babies. Staff regularly undertake training to stay up to date with recent developments. As a result of their training they have adapted their approach to support children's behaviour, engaging in listening to children more to understand the underlying issue. n Parent feedback is positive and parents recommend the nursery to others. They praise the effective communication, saying they feel well informed about their children's activities and progress. Parents comment that their children are happy in the nursery and develop strong friendships. They report that staff support them in childcare matters.

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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 strengthen the organisation of outdoor activities even more to enable children to fully participate in learning n engage younger children in conversations that support and encourage them to explore their ideas and interests even further, to benefit their communication skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 107112 Local authority Bristol City of Inspection number 10388685 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 94 Number of children on roll 137 Name of registered person Windmill Hill City Farm

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reference number

Telephone number 0117 9633299 Date of previous inspection 23 July 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Windmill Hill City Farm registered in 2004. It operates from a purpose-built nursery and an outdoor extension of the nursery 'Farm Adventurers' on a city farm in central Bristol. The nursery opens five days a week from 8am to 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year. Farm Adventurers operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 12 midday and from Tuesday to Thursday from 12 midday to 4pm. They offer government funded spaces for childcare. There are 32 staff who work directly with the children, of whom 27 hold at least a relevant level 3 childcare qualification. Eleven members of staff hold a childcare qualification at degree level.

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Inspection activities

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 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 Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity and they evaluated this together.

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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

28 April 2025 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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