Goosehill at Hepscott Park

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Staff have very high expectations for all children and provide inspirational activities for children to learn and play outdoors. Managers say they aim to plan 'magical and precious' experiences for children.

All children are extremely motivated and curious during exciting activities in the on-site forest school. They are taught to value the environment around them. Staff also provide older children with weekly visits to beach school.

Staff provide innovative opportunities for children to develop their imagination. For example, older children become deeply engaged in making 'potions' with herbs and water. Staff s...ensitively support children to develop their hand-to-eye coordination.

Children use small hammers safely to build with nails and wood, demonstrating high levels of perseverance and concentration.Staff plan detailed movement programmes to challenge children to develop their physical skills. Toddlers confidently climb bridges and towers, crawl into dens and move through tunnels in the nursery garden.

Babies and toddlers enjoy being swung in a hammock, crawling in leaves, and pulling themselves up onto logs in the forest. Children's behaviour is excellent. They are extremely happy and safe in this nurturing setting.

Children listen attentively to each other, happily take turns and play cooperatively. Staff help children to recognise their feelings. Children freely talk about what makes them happy, sad, excited or worried.

Staff encourage children to develop their independence at every opportunity. Older children confidently spread butter on bread that they have toasted on a fire pit. Toddlers ably pour their own drinks and serve their own meals.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

Children are highly enthusiastic learners who are eager to join in with all activities. They play and explore with an exciting range of natural and everyday resources. For example, staff provide real tea sets, dried pasta and fruit and vegetables in the role-play area to extend children's imaginations.

Staff provide many opportunities for children to learn about the world around them. The nursery has a pet rabbit, ducks and hens, which roam freely in the garden as children play. Children learn to care for the animals and delight in collecting fresh eggs each morning.

Children have excellent opportunities to develop their literacy and early writing skills. Babies use their whole bodies to paint. Older children read a favourite book about a 'Leaf Man' while in the forest.

They look for leaves and make recordings using clipboards. Toddlers are highly engaged in making marks on walls with rollers, large brushes and water.Superb opportunities are provided for children to develop their mathematical skills when they play.

For example, staff encourage older children to count conkers and match them to wooden numerals. Toddlers count thimbles and hoops as they balance them carefully on hooks. Children solve problems and explore size when they meticulously balance cups and plates to build towers.

Staff support children's communication and language skills exceptionally well. They introduce new words and encourage children to talk about their learning. Older children confidently discuss their New Year's resolutions.

They talk about trying to learn to write their friend's names. Toddlers develop their vocabulary when they join in with the words and actions of their favourite songs.Staff provide rich and diverse opportunities for children to learn about their local community.

Children visit a home for older people each week and take part in movement sessions with them. They are encouraged to have an awareness of those who are less fortunate than themselves, for example by collecting for the local food bank. Staff take children to visit nearby shops and markets to buy and learn about fresh ingredients for their meals.

Highly effective settling-in procedures help children to form secure bonds with staff. Staff provide comfortable areas for parents to breastfeed. Babies have cosy baskets, which they can crawl into to sleep or use as a secure base to play.

Prior to starting, parents are offered stay-and-play sessions to help familiarise their babies with their new environment.Managers are extremely committed to providing highly focused training for staff. They constantly research and identify new ways of supporting children's development.

For example, recent training has helped staff support children's and each other's well-being and happiness. Staff morale is extremely high and most staff have been at the nursery for many years. They comment on the excellent levels of support and guidance that they receive from the managers.

Staff establish exceptional relationships with parents. They are highly successful at offering suggestions to parents about how to continue their children's learning at home. For example, pre-school children take home 'spark-a-thought' bags to develop their thinking and language skills.

Toddlers join in with 'book-share' programmes between home and nursery. Parents comment that their children 'run into nursery with open arms' and flourish and thrive in this setting.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff give a high priority to keeping children safe. All staff can explain confidently how to identify children who may be at risk of harm. They complete thorough risk assessments of the premises to ensure that children are well protected.

Staff teach children of all ages about how to keep themselves safe. Older children learn to manage their own risks, displaying their drawings of 'stop' and 'think carefully' around the nursery. Staff involve children in checking for possible risks while using the fire pit.

Children learn to use a toaster safely to make their own toast at breakfast time. They meet people in the community who help keep them safe. For example, children enjoy a visit from firefighters with their fire engine.