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Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)

Venture Hope Cove

Inspected 19 Jun 2025 · published 24 Jul 2025 · URN EY555908

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Summary

Outstanding

Shirley Evel

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Group verified

    Venture Outdoor Kindergarten Partnership

  • Group reference verified

    RP555907

  • Inspection date verified

    19 Jun 2025

  • Inspectors verified

    Shirley Evel

  • Behaviour and attitudes verified

    Outstanding

  • Leadership and management verified

    Outstanding

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Outstanding

  • Personal development verified

    Outstanding

  • Previous overall verified

    Outstanding

  • Quality of education verified

    Outstanding

  • Postcode verified

    TQ7 3HR

  • Name on report verified

    Venture Hope Cove

  • URN verified

    EY555908

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2019.

  • OverallOutstanding
  • Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
  • Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Personal developmentOutstanding
  • Quality of educationOutstanding

11% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Outstanding (17,905 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+92Very positivemore positive than 57% of reports of this type graded Outstanding
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

In line with other reports of this type graded Outstanding.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praiseexceptionalenjoyexceptionallyskilledthriverapid progressambitiousextremely
Criticismslowly

How the report reads, start to finish

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FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings983w+91
  • Safeguarding20w+50

Strengths

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Concerns

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No strong criticism found.

Next steps

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What the report dwells on

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Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
6
Words of findings
975
about usual (typical 818)
Reading level
Plain English
Flesch 62, typical 49
Average sentence
14 words
Next steps
3
typical 0
Hedged sentences
0%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 64%Safeguarding 1%About the inspection 35%

Full report text

Inspection of Venture Hope Cove SW Coast path, Hope Cove, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 3HR

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

p.1

The provision is outstanding

Highly qualified staff are skilled in creating a nurturing environment where all children are supported to thrive. Children arrive excited and eager for adventures and fun. They show exceptional levels of concentration, focus and collaboration as they engage in activities of their choosing. For example, as they create a flower potion together, children take turns adding petals to the mix that they think look or smell nice. They share their joy with each other as they hold flowers up for their friends to smell. Children consider the scents and exclaim, 'This one is like marshmallows that mummy puts on hot chocolate.'

p.2

The provision is outstanding

The curriculum is clear and ambitious for every child. Children experience learning opportunities that support them to develop, practise and master skills and knowledge. Staff prioritise supporting children to learn to care for themselves, each other and their environment. Staff support children superbly. For example, children are taught that their voice is their power and that they have choice. Staff remind children they must put their hand out in front of them and say stop if someone is doing something they do not like. They model caring for the environment. Children arrive at kindergarten holding a ladybird. Staff take the time to speak to them about its features and about its habitat. Children decide a leaf on a tree will be a safe place for it to live.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Happiness and joy are promoted. Staff develop close bonds with children. They model respect and value children's thoughts, feelings and ideas. Children have complete trust that they are cared for. This is clear from the contentment they show as they play. Staff know children extremely well. They assess what children already know and what they need to learn next. They seize every opportunity to consolidate and extend learning. As children enjoy a walk in the woods, staff point out features of the plants and trees. Children are intrigued by the inside of flowers and excitedly discuss if they have foxgloves in their own gardens.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children enjoy an extensive range of learning activities. Every day is a new adventure in the woodland, on the beaches, in the village and in the setting's garden. These rich and varied experiences help develop children's understanding of the community in which they live. On world kindness day, children enjoy making and giving cards to members of the community, such as the coast guards and the fishermen, to thank them for their hard work. n Staff are exceptional role models, and children are exceptionally well behaved. Staff speak calmly, softly and respectfully to each other, and the children adopt the same approach when speaking with each other. Young children share remarkably and negotiate in their play. They listen carefully to each other and

p.2

need to do better?

19 June 2025 respond with care. The garden environment is bustling yet harmonious. Staff prioritise supporting children to develop an awareness of others when they join the setting and reinforce this expectation through their shared approach of guiding play sensitively. n Leaders and managers are passionate about their setting. They constantly reflect on their own and staff's practice. Procedures are in place to ensure all members of staff provide high-quality care and learning experiences for every child, every day. For example, children's needs are discussed daily. All staff are aware of focus children and discuss how to support them. Support for every child is tailored to meet their next steps in learning. There is a cohesive approach to providing children with targeted support so they can make rapid progress. n Staff support children to persevere and enjoy learning from others. They scaffold and nurture the skills needed. This builds such high levels of pride in children as

p.2

need to do better?

they all play and learn as a team. For example, before children use a rope to help them safely ascend a steep slope, staff speak with them about strategies to support the climb. They ask children if they have any advice for new friends who have not visited before. Children demonstrate and explain their ideas with such confidence. They show hand over hand as a safe way to climb the hill and emphasise the need to 'keep hold of the rope and go slowly around trees as they can be tricky'. They beam with pride at knowing how to help friends. Children show physical skills that far exceed that expected for their age and navigate challenging terrain with resilience and success. n Children use resources and tools to extend their own learning, and staff place themselves sensitively within the environment so they can promote children's skills and understanding. They provide encouragement or support as needed. Staff role model using a hammer safely and support children to develop accuracy

p.3

need to do better?

as they practise using it. Children progress from hammering into soft wood to hammering on harder materials as they develop in skill. Other staff share stories with children about travel. As they read, they asks questions about children's travel experiences, and they excitedly remember plane journeys to visit family. n The environment that is created by staff supports all children to acquire and use language and blossom into skilled communicators. Staff listen intently to children and respond sensitively in each interaction. Staff interactions are considered and have real purpose. They support children to develop their independence to solve problems, appreciate and understand feelings of others and show kindness to all. For example, as children find spaces to sit for snack time and wish to sit in an occupied space, staff remark, 'I can see that is a problem for you, I wonder what you could do about it?' Children then take ownership of solving the

p.3

need to do better?

problem and focus on making everyone feel happy and included.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY555908 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10398688 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Venture Outdoor Kindergarten Partnership

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07500927722 Date of previous inspection 5 November 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Venture Hope Cove registered in 2017 and opens from 9am to 3pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, during term times. The kindergarten is based at the Reading Rooms in Hope Cove, from which they explore the local woodlands, beaches and outdoor spaces. There are five members of staff, all of whom have academic degrees and two of whom hold qualified teacher status. All staff have substantial previous experience of outdoor provision.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Leaders and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the kindergarten and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children and monitor needs for early help. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

p.5

Inspection activities

n Leaders showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.5

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.5

Inspection activities

19 June 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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

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