Little Adventurers Forest School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children are really excited and can hardly wait to get into the woods. They are really keen to check if their favourite log is still there or if there are any new puddles.

Children behave incredibly well in this setting. They listen really well to staff's instructions and know exactly how far they can go in the woods and field. Children are very aware of the rules made for their safety.

For example, they know which way to walk around the fire pit and to wait to be called to get their snack and drink. They quickly grasp how to bend their knees to get down steep slopes safely. They display high levels of care and ...cooperation with each other.

For example, they readily give each other a hand to get out of the mud when they have fallen.Children make considerable progress in their learning. Children make significant strides in their language development.

Younger children rapidly gain a broad vocabulary that includes the names of the birds and animals they see around the site. Older children quickly develop a can-do attitude in activities. For example, they plan what they might make, explain how they will do it and then have a go.

Children rise to the challenges of the outdoor activities incredibly well. For example, even the youngest children soon learn to cope with eating their packed lunches outside and manage hot food in flasks.

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

Children relish the access they have to real tools and resources.

They demonstrate excellent physical skills as they hammer nails, use the saw and drill holes. Younger children love being able to practise hammering and sawing over and over again. Older children are highly purposeful in what they make.

For example, they find the right kind of twig to make reindeer antlers and drill a hole for string to tie it to their head.Staff are highly qualified and really skilful at observing and adjusting the way they intervene when working with the children. For example, they readily re-word questions, pose problems and offer suggestions during an activity so that all children can achieve.

For example, children persevere to make their own bird feeders with pine cones and seeds. They work out how to use lard to get the seeds to stick. They then experiment with how to get them to stay or hang in the tree.

Older children are particularly persistent and try different lengths of thread until they have enough and succeed in tying it to the tree.Staff always challenge and encourage children to do as much as they can for themselves. Children develop incredible levels of perseverance and resilience.

For example, when they fall over, they get straight up, rub the mud off their hands and carry on. They love climbing trees. They know how to test the branches and will keep trying until they get to where they intended.

Staff make excellent use of the natural resources all around them to promote mathematics though play. Children count really confidently to 20 when playing hide and seek. They work out how many children there are and are very quick to tell the staff how to write the number.

Children are very able to solve simple problems and readily add one more and recognise quantity, for example when collecting pine cones.Staff make exceptional efforts to include children who may have special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, they creatively find ways to ensure children with physical needs can climb safely and access the woods.

Staff build really strong relationships with parents. Parents speak very highly of the staff, of their care for their child and their approachability. Staff work really hard to share information about the children's progress with parents and the other settings they attend.

Leaders are inspirational. They are extremely knowledgeable about outdoor education and constantly reflect on and improve what they do. For example, they have improved the children's access to and learning about technology.

Children have great fun making the walkie talkies work.Staff are really committed to promoting equality and diversity with the children. They teach children about respecting each other and their differences through lots of different activities.

These include visits to the local library and shops as well as activities, such as building dams and bridges over the stream. This requires them to work together and help each other.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have an excellent understanding of how to protect children and keep them safe. They are highly knowledgeable about possible signs of abuse and how to report their concerns. Staff are highly effective in identifying children who may need help or may be at risk of harm.

They are very vigilant about children's safety. Children learn how to keep themselves safe and assess risks really well. Staff are also well aware of signs or changes in behaviour that may point to radicalisation or extremism.