Bidbury Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and show they feel very safe in this nurturing pre-school. On arrival, they demonstrate a keen sense of belonging and quickly settle into the routines which are very familiar to them. For example, they choose their picture and put it on a board as they self-register. Children develop strong relationships with their friends, which creates a family atmosphere at pre-school. There are plenty of opportunities for children to engage in learning. Staff offer children an exciting and motivating learning environment which covers a varied curriculum. For example, children skilfully balance on planks and show their good coordination as they crawl under netting.

Children are well behaved and learn the rules and boundaries of the setting, such as 'running feet are for outside'. They demonstrate a strong interest and enthusiasm for all aspects of learning and respond readily to the high expectations of staff. Children concentrate hard on their chosen tasks. For example, they spend a long time at the play dough table, developing their finger and hand muscles well, using various tools. They happily talk about what they know and can do as they explore the play dough and make links in their learning. For example, they pick up spoons and say spontaneously while looking at staff proudly, 'two spoons'. Children engage successfully with staff and play alongside friends. Staff have a clear understanding of each child's learning and emotional needs and use their skills to support children well in their care and development.

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

• Since the last inspection, the management team has worked hard to address and put right the weaknesses identified in safeguarding. Documentation is easily available for inspection, and there is a clear system in place to make sure recruitment and vetting checks are carried out on the committee.
• Children are highly motivated to learn. They show interest and curiosity during their activities and thoroughly enjoy the close attention they receive from staff. Children's achievements are widely celebrated, which helps build children's self-esteem. For example, children delight in seeing their good and very individual artwork on display on the wall.
• The dedicated staff know the children very well and use their precise assessments to check what children know and can do. This effectively informs their teaching. Staff interact and engage frequently with children, such as when they spontaneously sing songs in play or share a book in the cosy book shed. Overall, staff have a clear understanding of the learning intention of activities, which helps build children's knowledge, step by step.
• Children who are below expected levels of development are swiftly identified. The special educational needs coordinator is knowledgeable and works well with parents, staff and other agencies. They agree and work on specific learning aims to ensure gaps in children's communication skills improve. However, specific teaching strategies identified to further aid speech skills, such as sign language, are not consistently implemented by all of the staff.
• Parents speak very highly of the nursery and staff. Parents feel that staff go above and beyond the role of an early years teacher by showing emphatic care towards families in need. Parents demonstrate there is strong communication with the staff, with lots of information-sharing taking place. For example, during lockdown, staff sent home hints and tips on learning activities for parents.
• Staff receive regular coaching and training to improve their personal effectiveness and understanding of how best to teach young children. Overall, the manager monitors the quality of education effectively and identifies areas for improvement. However, the manager and staff do not consistently evaluate if whole-group story time is effective for all children. Some children are not fully engaged and interested at this time.
• The management team pays good attention to their curriculum to ensure it meets children's needs. They understand that some children prefer to learn outside, and therefore they organise exciting play activities which children are keen to access. For example, children bath baby dolls and learn how to care for newborn babies.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff understanding of the specific teaching strategies in place for children identified with special educational needs and/or disabilities
• strengthen the leadership team's knowledge of strategies to evaluate and improve the quality of teaching to a higher level, particularly whole-group times.