Naturally Learning Charlestown

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is outstanding • The members of the management team have an excellent understanding of the learning and development requirements. Coupled with their vast knowledge, they ensure all children make exceptional progress to meet their outcomes. For example, staff teach children how to make a fire safely.

• Senior management provides exceptional supervision for all staff and apprentices. It mentors them extensively to ensure they continue to build on their already excellent teaching skills, to benefit children. • Children's behaviour is exemplary.

They play exceptionally well together, showing the utmost respect towards others and the natural environment. They h...ave a thorough understanding of how to keep safe, using hand tools competently. • Excellent teaching resources acquired from visits to other countries help inspire children's communication and imagination to high levels.

For instance, they use resources to create their own wonderful stories. • All children have extensive opportunities to explore the outdoors. They construct natural climbing frames made from fallen trees, create 'rope swings' and thoroughly enjoy 'mud sliding', to help support excellent physical skills.

• Parents are superbly involved in their children's learning. Staff organise highly exciting events, such as a 'night in the woods' evening, where parents and their children cook popcorn over an open fire and make spectacular spider webs. Parents also attend the 'play cafe', where they receive excellent support in areas such as breastfeeding and weaning, and attend sessions such as pregnancy yoga.

• Children have excellent opportunities to be creative. For instance, they engage in 'transient art', making non-permanent artwork from natural resources either as a group or individually. They use empty frames, mirrors, chalkboards and dough to create a space for their highly innovative creations.