East Harptree Nursery Pre School and Forest School

Inspection of East Harptree Nursery Pre School and Forest School The Theatre, Middle Street, East Harptree, Bristol, Avon BS40 6AZ

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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

Children's care needs and well-being are very closely supported. Staff are thoughtful and attentive. They offer new babies and children lots of reassurance and cuddles, settling them in sensitively. Staff ensure they communicate and share children's needs to support them consistently. Similarly, children are closely supported as they move to different rooms within the nursery, they form strong bonds with their key person. Staff provide nutritious meals and healthy drinks for children and ensure they get the rest they need. They conscientiously support children's dietary requirements and any additional health needs.

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The provision is good

Staff have an overarching curriculum with themes they run through the nursery, age appropriately introducing new concepts to children. Staff help children to grow in confidence and work to get to know them well. Their current 'All About Me' theme focuses on children's families and individualities. Children proudly bring in photos of their family to share with staff and the other children. Children are inspired by the resources and activities staff provide, keen to investigate. They develop their dexterity and strength in readiness for early writing. They form faces with pink dough adding in pom-poms for eyes and pipe cleaners for different features. Children make marks with pens and chalks, and staff encourage them to discuss shapes, such as circles for faces and eye or hair colours. Children show positive attitudes to learning and developing their skills.

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need to do better?

n There have been considerable changes since the last inspection. Staff have worked hard to improve what they can offer children and families in the local community, and have expanded to three age groups. They provide well thought out areas. They have more recently added a covered area outside, to provide protection for children and enable them to be out in all weathers. Babies relish crawling around on the safe surfaces, and designated areas enable children to explore on trikes and scooters safely. n Staff use a 'plan, do, review' cycle to observe and assess children's abilities and promptly outline and support emerging gaps in children's development. They liaise closely with parents and other professionals, helping children gain any extra support they need to close these gaps and reach their potential. n Staff plan useful group times to develop children's skills. Babies enjoy their singing session, eagerly copy sounds and actions and develop their

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need to do better?

communication skills. Staff lead targeted programmes of support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and build their attention skills effectively. Toddlers listen excellently during their 'circle time', showing strong skills for their age, confidently discussing the weather. However, staff are not always successful in their support for older children during routines

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need to do better?

11 September 2025 and some group times. At times, staff do not channel children's exuberant energy and behaviour and engage them all consistently in activities. n Children enjoy listening to stories. Babies snuggle in to share a book with staff. Pre-school children learn about emotions during a 'Colour Monster' story and an interesting craft activity after. They explore colours linked to emotions, discussing these with staff. Toddlers select books independently and sit on the sofa relaxing and looking at pictures, handling the books carefully. n Children enjoy the sensory play provided by staff. Older children investigate with water outside; staff encourage them to explore in their own way. Children select resources independently, moving water around, mixing it with the sand and stones, also with leaves and flowers for imaginary potions. Older babies explore bathing baby dolls, squeezing soapy water from sponges. Toddlers place dried

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need to do better?

spaghetti strands into dough carefully and persevere to thread items onto these. However, occasionally staff do not always follow younger children's interests and adapt their approach and teaching to engage children fully as they play. n Management is using support from the local authority to bring in evaluation tools and extend their improvements to practice and teaching. Management knows the value of developing the team's skills. Many of the staff team are undertaking further qualifications to extend their knowledge and practice, including management. However, support for staff to reflect on and develop their teaching and practice is not yet embedded. Staff sometimes miss cues in the moment and do not adapt their approach to extend children's outcomes further. n The nursery's community links are very strong. Staff take children to attend festivals and events held by the school and church. Children purchase items at

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need to do better?

the village shop with staff. Children visit local parks and farms, and older children enjoy forest school sessions in the local woodlands, developing their knowledge of the natural world very effectively.

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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 pick up on children's exploration more readily, channelling this successfully and developing children's understanding, attention and engagement further n support staff to consistently reflect on their practice and adapt their teaching and practice more effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 133021 Local authority Bath and North East Somerset Council Inspection number 10407569 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 39 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person East Harptree Nursery Pre School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07465 436635 Date of previous inspection 13 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

East Harptree Nursery, Pre-School and Forest School registered in 1981. It is situated in the village of East Harptree, near Bath. The pre-school is open from 8am to 6pm on Monday to Thursday and from 8am to 5pm on Friday. It operates for 48 weeks of the year, closing for two weeks at Christmas and at the end of the school summer holidays. There are 14 members of staff that work regularly with the children, 11 hold an appropriate qualification at level 3. There are also two staff that cover lunches and one cleaner. The setting provides government funded places.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The manager and the inspector evaluated the effectiveness of an activity together. n The inspector observed the children and staff and spoke with them at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector discussed the leadership and management of the nursery with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the provision with the inspector. n The inspector met with two members of the nursery's committee, to discuss how they support the running of the provision. n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector including suitability checks and paediatric first-aid qualifications. n The inspector and the special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator discussed the support for children with SEND. n The manager discussed their safety and child protection procedures and

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Inspection activities

safeguarding discussions were undertaken with members of the staff team.

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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

11 September 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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