Bletchley preschool including cuddles nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff put a fully flexible and high-quality curriculum into action for children. This helps to meet children's changing needs as they get older and more confident in their learning. There is a heavy focus upon fostering children's emotional well-being. Children know that staff care about them. They excitedly run into the pre-school in the morning and show they feel content and secure. Staff help children to gain the important skills that they need to be ready for starting school.

Children are rapidly developing into inquisitive and eager learners who have a huge appetite for learning new things. The manager has extremely high ambition for what children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can achieve. She is relentless in her commitment to providing children with the very best support. By joining with the local authority and other providers, she has developed extensive awareness of how to offer effective, individualised support for children with SEND.

Staff help children to follow clear and simple rules. They are good role models who treat children with consideration and respect. Children show the same respect and courtesy towards each other. When children want to play together at an activity, they assign tasks so that they can play together harmoniously. This demonstrates their impressive ability to regulate their behaviour and accommodate others.

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

• The curriculum is fully embedded across all aspects of the pre-school. Staff understand exactly what their role is in promoting children's learning and they do so with enthusiasm and authority. As a result, children have an exceptionally strong foundation in learning and make superb progress from their individual starting points.
• All staff understand the importance of supporting children's communication and language development. Time is set aside for quieter times where staff sit one to one with children and talk with them. Staff's patience and gentle encouragement stimulate children to want to talk and share their ideas. Staff understand that use of electronic devices can have a negative impact upon children's speech and language. Consequently, they spend time ensuring that children can have eye contact when talking with them and wait for their response. Staff show genuine interest and excitement about what children say and pay close attention. This helps children to know that they are important and what they say is of value.
• Key persons know the local area, children and families extremely well. By having an extensive understanding about the local community and needs of families, staff provide superb care for children. This has huge benefit for children, who thrive during their time at pre-school.
• The manager makes excellent use of additional funding to ensure that equipment and experiences for children focus on supporting their development. The manager recognises the vital importance of developing children's physical skills and encouraging them to lead active and healthy lifestyles. Staff take children on local trips to help them to learn through new experiences. For example, children took part in Remembrance day celebrations at the local church and have visited the local garden centre and parks.
• Staff use every opportunity to support children's learning. Children demonstrate a phenomenal knowledge of how their bodies work and how to stay healthy. This knowledge by far exceeds expectations for their young age and shows their excellent ability to recall information and put this into context. For example, children can explain about the function of their heart, kidneys and lungs.
• From the very beginning, staff value and welcome parents into the setting. Parents say that their children are happy and settled at the pre-school. They feel that staff care deeply about their children. Staff share extensive information about children's development and this helps parents to know what children are learning and how they can support their good progress at home.
• The manager is an inspirational leader who motivates the staff team extremely well. Staff describe the team as like a family who shower each other with support and encouragement. Staff genuinely love their work and are dedicated to providing the very best care and education for children.