Beck Row Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children eagerly arrive and are welcomed with warm hugs from staff who are caring and attentive. Children settle immediately to their play. They are relaxed and happy. Staff know children very well. They arrange the environment to meet children's needs. For example, they provide a specific space for children who have a keen interest in emptying containers. Staff promote children's growing independence. At snack time, children pour their own drinks and choose which healthy foods they want to eat. Children wash their own hands before lunch. They happily help tidy away toys.

Staff support children to behave positively. They teach children how a sand timer is used to wait for their turn. Staff encourage children to understand how other children feel. Staff praise children for being kind. They encourage children to play with others. Children are friendly. They welcome each other into their play. Staff are good role models. They support children to understand the boundaries of the setting. They remind children to walk indoors. Staff work hard to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included in all learning opportunities. Children with SEND make good progress in their learning and development.

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

• Staff keep children safe and secure in the setting. They risk assess individual children's needs to ensure they are kept safe. For example, they ensure that smaller items are not available for children who could put them in their mouths. They supervise children closely at mealtimes. Staff work with parents to provide healthy meals and snacks.
• Staff support children's communication and language skills. They sing with children throughout the day. Inside, staff lead whole group sessions to support children to sing and dance. Children enthusiastically copy the actions of songs while singing. Younger children enjoy reading stories with staff. Staff interact positively with children and listen attentively. They use sign language and clear vocabulary to help children communicate. Children who are still developing their communication skills make good progress in their language development.
• Children develop their understanding of the world. Staff provide engaging craft activities. Children make lanterns to celebrate Chinese New Year. Staff teach children the meaning of Valentine's Day. Children use tools to draw and glue heart shapes on paper plates. Staff talk to children about how many items they are sticking. They discuss the shape, colour and size they are. This helps reinforce children's mathematical learning. Staff encourage children to recognise and write their own names. This promotes children's emerging literacy skills.
• Children have lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children spend a long time concentrating as they manipulate magnetic toys with their hands and fingers. This helps them develop their fine motor skills. Outside, children climb on apparatus. They share a large seesaw. This helps them develop their balance and their social skills. Staff implement a routine to ensure that all children have access to outside play. However, staff have not considered how to manage the daily transitions between indoors and outside effectively so that children understand what is expected.
• Parents speak extremely highly of the setting. They say it is 'the heart of the community'. Many attended the pre-school themselves as children. Parents appreciate the help they have received with supporting their children's development. Staff regularly share information with parents. They swiftly identify when children require further support. They work closely with parents to ensure that children with SEND receive the help they need. Parents comment on the good support their children receive to ensure they are ready to start school.
• Leaders are passionate about the care and education the children receive. They reflect on their practice. Leaders take action to ensure that practice is continually improving. They support staff to understand why they are planning certain activities. Leaders have implemented a new training system for staff. This helps keep staff practice and knowledge up to date. Staff report that they feel very well supported, both professionally and personally.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review and improve how routine transitions during the day are managed so that children understand what is expected.