Forest Friends Childcare Redcar LTD

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Staff are not always deployed effectively throughout the nursery. On several occasions throughout the day, some rooms do not have enough staff to maintain adequate levels of supervision. Despite this, children demonstrate they feel happy and settle in quickly.

Staff provide a warm, friendly environment and know children well. Babies benefit from staff who meet their care needs swiftly and are soothed through cuddles from their key person. Toddlers show high levels of confidence as they explore their surroundings.

Older children develop good social skills and benefit from specific praise given by staff. The manager has con...sidered the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's development. The curriculum focuses on developing children's language skills and preparing them for the next stages in their learning.

Staff respect children's voices and encourage them to lead their own learning. Children are consistently engaged in experiences and have fun in the nursery. Although children have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills and enjoy the fresh air outdoors, staff do not consistently promote their good health.

For example, children are not provided with healthy choices at mealtimes and staff do not consider cross contamination risks during planned activities. Despite this, children demonstrate high levels of independence and enjoy the social atmosphere at lunchtime.

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

The manager understands the importance of providing continuity for children.

She ensures key staff consistently work with their key children in order to meet their emotional needs. Babies settle quickly after they arrive, and staff know how to meet their care needs. However, staff are not always deployed effectively, specifically during school drop off and pick up times.

Children make decisions about their own learning and show staff where they would like to learn. Staff use their knowledge of children's interests and prior skills to challenge and extend their learning. For example, toddlers show excitement to talk about their feelings and begin to understand what they mean.

Older children develop this further as staff help them to reflect on how they feel and use paints to express this in colour.Staff understand the impact of the pandemic on children's communication and language, and personal social and emotional development. They work hard to provide children with a range of experiences to broaden their knowledge.

For example, each room has a pet which children thoroughly enjoy taking care of. Staff help babies to take extra care as they stroke the guinea pigs and babies copy new words, such as wriggle. This has a positive impact on their emotional well-being and extends their vocabulary.

Children are not provided with healthy, balanced and nutritious meals each day. For example, at the inspection, children ate processed burgers and potato wedges. The menu contains a high number of processed meals which are high in salt, particularly for children aged between one and three years.

In addition, staff do not talk to children about making healthy food choices to build up their awareness. This does not promote children's good health.Staff have developed effective partnerships with children and their families.

Parents know who their child's key person is and are involved decisions about their learning. For example, staff focus on helping children prepare for the next stages in their learning, such as moving on to the next room in the nursery. They gather information from parents about children's new interests and abilities to help this run smoothly for children.

Staff know how to make referrals and seek advice from other professionals if there are concerns about children's development Staff do not consider how they will maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene during sensory experiences for younger children. For instance, they encourage children to use forks in a floor tray filled with spaghetti to develop their self-help skills. However, children use the same forks and eat spaghetti from around the tray.

In addition, young children attempt to drink from other children's empty bottles. This does not promote their good health or prevent cross contamination.The leadership team provide effective support to staff and are keen to make continual improvements to the nursery.

For example, staff access a range of professional development opportunities and develop their skills to work with children. Staff ask children to share their ideas about how to develop the outdoor area. This promotes a positive culture, where staff and children feel valued.

Feedback from parents is very positive. They say the staff help their children to become 'kind little people' and are very happy with the experiences provided.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The manager ensures staff receive regular training and updates to maintain a thorough knowledge of child protection. Staff understand their responsibilities to keep children safe. For instance, they are aware of the procedures to follow if they have concerns about children and confidently discuss potential signs of abuse.

The manager verifies staff's suitability before they start by obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service checks. She provides supervision meetings to discuss their ongoing health and well-being. Staff complete daily checks on resources and areas used by children.

They teach children how to keep themselves safe. For example, children enjoy visits from the community police officer and practise fire drills.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date improve staffing arrangements to ensure children are always adequately supervised, specifically during school pick up and drop off times 29/06/2023 develop a healthy, balanced menu to ensure children are provided with nutritious meals each day and teach them about the importance of a healthy diet 29/06/2023 improve staff's understanding of how to maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness, particularly during sensory play with food, to promote children's good health and prevent cross contamination.

29/06/2023