Out of school and Childcare in the holidays
Tandle Hill Park & Rangers Station, Tandle Hill Road, Royton, Oldham, OL2 5UX
Contact phone
07890 865 745Contact email
mark@compassforestschool.co.uk
Ofsted URN: 2569368
Ofsted rating
MetOfsted report
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2569368Age
2 - 12 years oldVacancy details
6Opening times
Monday to Friday 10am - 3pmDescription
Parents have to stay with Children under 5 years old
All fees negotiable please contact provider to discuss
Children need a packed lunch
Provides for different cultural needs
YesHow do you identify special educational needs and disabilities?
As a childcare provider with limited contact, in terms of actual time spent with a child unlike a school or nursery, Compass Forest School does not identify SEND. However, Compass Forest School does welcome and support children with already identified SEND to make progress.How do you support a child’s learning and development?
Compass Forest School has a thorough onboarding process into the community. This is a series of steps that allow Compass Forest School to know and understand a family they’ll be working with. Allowing them to be served at the highest level. This will include the sharing of all relevant information, any Education, Health and Care Plan’s, family dynamic, markers of progress and goals, amongst other things. During sessions, Compass Forest School follows the Forest School ethos. One such element of that is child led play. Child led play is where a child chooses what, when, how and with whom they want to play, often inspired by their own internal learning motivations. This way of learning allows children to develop the key knowledge, attitudes, skills and habits of how to learn. It is Compass Forest School’s belief that this is what sets children up for life success. Children are guided by Compass staff every step of the way to achieve their individual goals, alongside ensuring their safety and wellbeing whilst in the woods. Compass Forest School will informally observe and photographically record moments of a child’s day at Forest School. These images and notes will be placed into a secure platform for parents to see, comment and converse over. Regular professional and personal contact is kept with a family to ensure they are more than satisfied. Sessions, informal observations and contact with a family are ongoing at Compass Forest School throughout the year.How do you meet a child’s educational needs?
This is ensured through regular informal observations, professional and personal contact, professional development of staff and reviews on whether or not individual needs and goals are being met. Practice will be adjusted accordingly. This is also supported by small group sizes, in the moment planning and the ethos of Forest School being embodied at Compass, which allows children to be themselves and follow their own learning interests and motivations.How do we know my child is achieving agreed outcomes?
Ongoing, informal observations stored inside a secure portal alongside regular professional and personal contact will highlight where outcomes are being achieved and where focus needs to be directed next.How do you adapt for a child with extra needs?
Given Compass Forest School’s adherence to the Forest School ethos there are no planned activities. Learning is conducted through child led play with the guidance of Compass Forest School staff. Such play is naturally at the competence level of a given child. Should for whatever it not be, then this can simply be aided by knowledgeable Compass staff.How accessible is your service, outside and inside?
Compass Forest School operates completely outdoors. There are nomadic type shelters that are brought during poor weather. Sites are easily accessed given the generally flat terrain. Woodland debris (sticks, leaves, rocks) offers excellent learning opportunitiesHow do you involve children in outings and trips?
Compass Forest School does not move from the specified site. There is considerable learning opportunity there alone. Inclusion will be guaranteed through the knowledgeable staff at Compass Forest School alongside the outdoors being a naturally community forming place.How do you work with other organisations?
Regular contact is kept with external agencies alongside going above and beyond when producing reports or updates on progress.How do you support children when they start and leave?
As part of the onboarding process at Compass Forest School specific requirements can be prepared for, prior to starting. This can include shorter days, parents attending alongside and other options. If a family were to leave the community, their next provider would be contacted and information passed on in confidence to ensure the best transition. Starting and Leaving a session is also very important at Compass Forest School. Each has their own process known as ‘check in’ and ‘check out’. This remains the same constant throughout all sessions. This allows children to transition from ‘life’ to Forest School and back again. A definitive start and end point that is communicated with the children.How are you/staff trained in extra needs?
Staff undertake regular professional development courses on areas that are not as well understood. A wide range of reading also takes place given the passion for Forest School staff at Eco Ed have.What is your policy on compliments, complaints, concerns?
Regular contact will be maintained with families from the very beginning. This will make it easy to know who to contact. However a formal complaints policy can be found on Compass Forest School website.
Updated: 20/12/2023