Courtney Ladybirds Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thoroughly enjoy their time in the pre-school. They freely move between indoors and outdoors, exploring their environment. Managers have a clear vision on what they want children to learn. They base this around children's individual interests to provide enriching experiences. Children develop strong relationships with staff, who know them very well as individuals. Role play is very popular, and children are enthusiastic in the use of their imagination. There is an infectious atmosphere as staff play alongside the children. They laugh together as they create 'wild hairstyles' on each other and on doll heads, in the pre-school's salon. Staff praise children when they have tried hard, and this develops their self-esteem.

Children are well behaved and listen to staff. They sit patiently in the reception area of their pretend salon for their turn or they pass each other tools to create a brick wall outside. Children remind their friends when to be 'gentle' during play and pass them a sunhat to protect them from the sun. Staff successfully promote children's independence skills. Children independently wipe their nose and place the tissue in 'germy' the bin after. They confidently share why they need to do this, for the prevention of spreading germs. Children carry out small tasks, such as helping to tidy away toys. This helps them to have a sense of responsibility for taking care of the resources and environment.

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

• Staff support children's developing communication and language skills very well. They understand how important it is for children to be able to express their needs and ideas. Staff have thoughtful conversations with children. They support these discussions by using visual prompts and teaching children signs. Children with speech delay confidently show the sign for 'more' and use a picture of which fruit they would like at snack time. This helps children to share their needs and supports others to understand how different people communicate.
• Children's early writing and creativity skills are fully supported. They have access to a range of writing materials. Children can chalk, draw or paint and use water on outside walls during the day. They show delight when they make marks on paper to record books their friends have borrowed from the pre-school library. Children enjoy spending time practising their cutting skills using scissors. They carefully cut flowers, leaves and seed pods to stick on a 'flower bracelet' that they are making. Consequently, children have plenty of opportunities to develop their manual dexterity.
• Children experience stories in a variety of fun and effective ways. They hear stories read to them and work with staff or friends to re-enact them using props. Children become familiar with the structure of stories and are also developing a love for books, literacy and language use.
• Staff plan a broad range of activities to help prepare children for their next stage in learning. However, on occasions, some staff do not consistently challenge children to solve problems independently. For example, staff share how a solar water fountain works or why the plants need watering in hot weather before children have time to think of ideas or answers for themselves. At these times, some children are not challenged enough in their learning.
• The passionate special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is very knowledgeable in her role. She works with key persons to look at the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), then produces individual learning plans to help meet the children's needs and set achievable targets. Equally, staff support children who receive additional funding. As a result, all children are making good progress from their starting points.
• The reflective management team demonstrates a strong commitment towards continual improvement. Managers monitor staff's professional progress and support them with their professional development. Staff feel very valued and speak with enthusiasm about their roles.
• Parents are very happy with the care and education the staff provide for their children. They comment that, 'The amazing staff go above and beyond their expectations.' Parents appreciate how the staff invest time to get to know their children and their family. They share that they are fully informed about what the staff are doing to help build on what their children already know and can do. This enables everyone to work together to help support children's learning at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• make the most of opportunities to challenge and build on what children can do to extend their learning and thinking skills even further.