Clever Clogs Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children radiate joy and happiness at this inspirational pre-school. Leaders and staff create environments that inspire and engage children in a vast range of learning experiences. Staff place a high priority on children's well-being. Children demonstrate a sense of safety and relaxation as they engage in yoga sessions. Furthermore, children have a strong sense of belonging at the pre-school. Staff encourage children to have a voice, such as when voting for the story of the day. 'Mini-me' figures made by staff for all children are incorporated into the many activities on offer.

Staff plan and deliver a range of inspiring learning experiences that captivate children. Careful consideration is given to what children learn and how it is taught. Consequently, children become deeply engaged in their play and show high levels of involvement and concentration. Children have incredibly positive attitudes to their play and learning. Relationships are respectful. Children show excellent listening and attention skills and respond positively to adult direction.

Children move around the pre-school with the utmost confidence. They behave exceptionally as they make independent choices about how to lead their learning. The highly inclusive environment supports all children to access the ambitious and challenging curriculum. As a result, children thrive.

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

• Leaders and staff know and understand the curriculum and how best to teach. They have a deep understanding of cultural capital and what this means for every child. Their commitment to closing gaps in children's learning is evidenced by their extensive efforts to provide children with the richest and broadest of experiences. As a result, children learn and remember more about the wider world and how they fit into it.
• Children's communication and language development is a prime focus. Leaders use screening tools and language boosting programmes to accelerate children's communication and language. Children choose favourite stories, songs and rhymes. Staff sing along with children as they play. Narration alongside children's play further provides rich language experiences where children hear words such as 'bumpy', 'scaly', and 'gigantic'. As a result, children are becoming capable communicators.
• Children are valued as active contributors in the pre-school. Their voice is an essential part of the day. Children have very high levels of confidence. They are keen to share ideas with visitors and talk about what they are learning. They demonstrate a sense of belonging and positive attitudes in all they do.
• Children are innately curious, exploring their environments with awe and wonder.
• They create potions in the mud kitchen, carefully following recipes made from petals, leaves and sand. When they find insects in the garden, they lovingly place them in the 'bug house' to stay safe. They are developing a sense of empathy and understanding of the feelings of others.
• Mathematical language is woven seamlessly through children's play. At the water tray, children develop their understanding of concepts such as empty and full. They solve problems such as how to transport water and move plastic ducks through chutes.
• Leaders have the utmost consideration for vulnerable children. They show a deep-rooted passion for giving every child an incredible start in life. They have developed a highly inclusive curriculum where environments and teaching help every child to thrive. Any funding received is used in the best possible way to ensure that children make consistent progress and achieve their personal targets.
• Staff deliver exceptional teaching because they know and understand their children and how to prepare them for the next stage in their education. This is fully supported by regular discussions about professional development and ongoing training. Leaders are highly reflective and constantly strive to make improvements in the provision that is offered.
• Leaders use evaluation well to monitor the quality of teaching. They demonstrate a secure understanding of the importance of knowing children's starting points, what they are capable of and how to provide challenges that expedite learning. As a result, children make rapid progress in their learning and development.
• The entire team has a secure understanding of what it means to keep children safe. They keep themselves up to date with training and local information and are confident to raise concerns about children or colleagues. Staff are helping children to learn about how to keep themselves safe.
• Parents speak very highly of the pre-school. They feel valued and respected as partners and know that their contributions to their children's learning help staff to shape the meaningful experiences that children have at the pre-school.