Churchwood Forest School CIC

Inspection of Churchwood Forest School CIC Churchwood Valley, Wembury, Plymouth PL9 0DZ

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This provision meets requirements

Children feedback that they enjoy attending this holiday club. The club's strong focus is on encouraging children to access the forest, build their confidence and develop skills in taking risks safely. Children of all ages confidently explain how much they enjoy spending time with the staff and the activities they take part in with their friends. For example, they discuss learning how to light fires and then cooking pancakes on the fire they have built. Children of different ages attend the club, forming friendships with others and developing their social skills and confidence. The staff are highly educated and experienced. Skilled in childcare, holiday camps and forest school education, they create a programme of activities that engage children during their time at the club. Creating artwork from natural materials together, like pine cone insects, helps children develop their creative and social skills, including turn-taking as they share materials. Children are supported

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This provision meets requirements

by staff to develop team games, with older children developing leadership skills. Children of all ages are curious, engaged and eager to take part in activities.

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This provision meets requirements

Staff know the children in their care well, building strong relationships with them and their families. They obtain relevant information from parents before children attend, ensuring they are aware of each child's needs and developmental stage. Children are secure, safe and understand the daily routine, which is clearly explained to them at the start of each day.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children in developing personal skills and understanding simple rules. For example, staff help children appreciate the forest boundaries, teaching them where they can and cannot go. The 'red ribbon rules' guide them, showing how to access the base camp and signalling to children not to go past the ribbons once they arrive. Staff support children to decide how far from the base they think is safe and try placing the ribbons themselves, building their independence skills, and understanding of risk awareness. Staff help children understand how their behaviour impacts others. When children struggle to share, they confidently ask their friends, 'Please can you share that?' n Staff have meaningful conversations with children, giving them time to think and respond. They discuss local towns and rivers. This helps children improve their communication skills and develop knowledge of the local area. Children of all

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need to do better?

ages introduce themselves to the group by sharing their name and favourite animal. For example, 'viper, koala', or 'cheetah'. Staff encourage children to remember the camp rules. For example, staff remind children not to eat the forest berries and help them remember the names, such as laurel berries. Children recall and explain that these berries look like grapes. They know they

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need to do better?

20 August 2025 must not eat them, stamp on them, or use them in the pretend kitchen. Children understand that eating these berries could make them unwell. This contributes to children developing high levels of personal care skills. n There is a strong focus on supporting children as they develop their creative skills, encouraging them to explore their own ideas and imagination. Staff help children build 'dream catchers' and other artwork, made from natural things they find in the forest, like leaves and twigs. Children say that the staff listen to them and children know that their opinions matter. In a quiet area of the forest, children enjoy drawing with pens, creating images on paper. n Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive. They report that their children thoroughly enjoy attending the holiday club and participating in the various activities. They feedback that communication is effective, and parents feel well

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need to do better?

informed about what their children do. Parents report that their children form good friendships at the club, and they highly recommend the club to others. n Staff keep up to date with relevant training and reflect on what they do with children to make improvements to the activities they offer. They report feeling valued in their role and that they enjoy working for the provider.

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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 the interests of children first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2750442 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10409458 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 Out-of-school day care

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inspection

Total number of places 17 Number of children on roll 156 Name of registered person Churchwood Forest School CIC

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reference number

Telephone number 07833133435 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Churchwood Forest School CIC registered in 2023 in the village of Wembury, near Plymouth. It operates each weekday during the school holidays, from 10am to 4pm. The holiday club employs five members of staff. Two hold level 6 qualifications and three 3 hold level 3 qualifications.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke with the inspector about the leadership and management of the setting. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the provision. n The inspector spoke with the manager to find out how practitioners seek children's views and engage them in the planning of activities.

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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

20 August 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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