Barlow Pre School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy and eager to enter the pre-school. They understand the daily routines and, on arrival, they find their name and place it through the post box for self-registration. This gives children a sense of belonging. Staff provide children with opportunities to learn about the farming community in which they live. Children excitedly take part in preparing soil for growing potatoes, showing they know how to use tools correctly. They learn about 'chitting' and preparing the potatoes ready for planting. Children recall what they have already learned about growing vegetables. They tell staff that the potatoes need water and sunshine to grow.

Children understand what is expected of them and they behave well. They play together and cooperate. For instance, children wait patiently for their turn to race a chosen vehicle over the ramps and down the track. Children develop good independence skills in readiness for school. They put on their own shoes and coats, pour their own drinks, and access the toilet themselves.

Children have a positive attitude towards learning and are keen to explore the wide range of activities set out for them. Staff have high expectations of children's learning, particularly their physical development. For example, children benefit from a football coach visiting the pre-school weekly. They use their imagination to pretend to be 'bees' buzzing around the field. Children demonstrate their developing coordination skills. They kick a football at the sports cones, which represent the flowers. Children hit the sports cone to release the 'pollen' and then race to the 'beehive'.

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

• Parents speak highly of the pre-school. Before starting at the setting, staff gather information from parents and carers about their children's home life and experiences. This helps them to understand what children already know and can do. Parents confirm that they are kept informed about their child's progress and given ideas to further support their learning at home.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. The special educational needs coordinator is knowledgeable in her role. She has worked hard to develop relationships with outside agencies. This means that children are referred for extra support where needed. Staff make necessary adaptions to the provision to ensure all children can access the activities provided.
• Management and staff have positive relationships with each other. Staff benefit from regular discussions about their professional development with the deputy manager. They have opportunities to grow their knowledge and skills through training. Despite this, leaders have not yet fully developed systems to consider how training meets the individual needs of staff in order to raise the quality of education to the highest level.
• Staff praise children for their efforts, achievements and positive behaviours. This helps to promote children's self-esteem and confidence. Staff provide opportunities to help children learn about their emotions and feelings. For example, children look at books about emotions and talk to staff and their friends about how they are feeling and why. They look at their facial expressions in a mirror and draw a picture of themselves. This helps children to develop an understanding of different emotions and why they feel the way they do.
• Children benefit from a language-rich environment that builds on their communication skills. Staff consistently introduce new vocabulary during play. For example, during a growing activity, staff introduce words such as 'fertilisation' and 'pollination'. They ensure that children understand what these words mean by providing context. That said, during an activity where children were naming animals, staff did not always repeat the words that children incorrectly said, so that they could hear the correct pronunciation.
• Staff understand that children need to practise their small-muscle skills and hand-to-eye coordination in readiness for future writing. They provide an array of fun activities to help children develop these skills. For instance, children mix powder paint and water together using paint brushes. They use large plastic tweezers to pick up small objects to transport them. Older children begin to use a pencil to form letters and write their name.
• Children attend regular forest-school sessions. They learn about nature and follow rules to help keep themselves safe. Children enjoy being active and benefit from the well-resourced outdoor area. They have lots of fun as they carefully navigate around the trim trail. Children use their balancing skills across ropes and tires before tackling the wooden beams. This supports children's large-muscle development, while learning to climb and balance.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• ensure the correct language and pronunciation is modelled by all staff consistently, to fully support children's developing vocabulary
• provide staff with focused professional development and carefully reflect on the impact the training has on the quality of education.