Coxheath Rising Five Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The dedicated manager and staff are passionate about providing a pre-school environment where all children can thrive and grow. They focus on promoting and celebrating children's strengths and supporting their weaknesses. The staff are compassionate and kind. They welcome children in with open arms and gently guide them through the day with a helping hand. Children run happily into the room and excitedly tell staff about their morning. They enjoy interacting with staff and delight in playing games with their friends. Staff are playful, fun and enthusiastic with the children. Children mirror this behaviour and often giggle and smile as they explore the resources.

Staff are very clear and consistent with rules and boundaries. Children show that they understand the rules and why they are in place. This creates a calm but exciting atmosphere where children know what to expect. The staff are a close team who model relationships based on respect and kindness. Many children have formed close friendships with their peers and readily invite others into their play. Children are good at sharing resources and make sure everyone is involved and included.

Staff have high expectations for all children. They work together to plan many exciting activities each day to engage and challenge the children. Staff ensure they encourage and support children to become independent and confident learners. They plan group activities and mimic some of the school routines to support them moving onto school.

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

• The manager and staff plan activities that challenge and support children to learn in all areas of the curriculum. Staff know children well and use regular, effective assessment to target learning at what children need to learn next. For example, staff support children to begin to identify the letters in their names. They help them to make the sound of each letter and put them in the correct order. Other children enjoy matching different sized and coloured bears to make repeating patterns.
• Staff present information clearly and help children to recall previous learning. They are good at checking children's understanding and providing further learning that will support them to continue to build on their knowledge and understanding. For example, staff remind children of their previous work on life cycles. Children then exclaim in awe as they look at baby caterpillars and think about what they will turn in to.
• Staff place an importance on developing children's communication and language. Children are immersed in an environment full of stories, role play and conversations. Children's language skills are developing well. However, staff do not consistently use effective methods to support children to develop their vocabulary.
• Children are beginning to understand their emotions and the effect their behaviour can have on others. Staff take the time to support children to reflect on how their friends feel and to think about emotions using books and mirrors. Children care about each other and come to staff to tell them when their friends are sad. Children negotiate together what they can play that they will all enjoy.
• Staff work hard to prepare children for school. They plan large group times, such as planting cress seeds and physical games. This supports children with sitting, listening and being part of a group learning experience. Children enjoy these and take part. However, staff do not always consider the size of the group. This can leave some children waiting a long time for their turn while not being actively involved in meaningful learning.
• Children demonstrate they are highly independent. Staff support them to put their own bags away and take their shoes off. Children find their name cards to self-register and enjoy helping staff to tidy up resources and to wash up snack time plates. They quickly become able to wash their own hands and go to the toilet independently.
• The manager is very supportive of her staff. She is good at helping them to identify further training to improve their skills and outcomes for children. Staff feel happy to be at work and are ready and able to provide the best care and education they can to children.
• The manager maintains good relationships with parents. She ensures they know what their children are learning and how they can provide a continuity of care together. The manager makes sure she has time to talk with parents and listen to them, proving advice and support. Parents feel confident that their children are safe, well cared for and making good progress.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to build more fully on children's developing language skills
• organise group times more effectively to ensure that all children are engaged in meaningful learning and to reduce waiting times for children.