Crondall Pre School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and thrive in this welcoming nursery. They settle in quickly on arrival and have adapted well to the necessary changes. They say 'goodbye' to their parents at the entrance and confidently go to a variety of exciting activities. Children have warm and affectionate relationships with staff. They feel safe and secure and have lovely interactions with staff and each other. For example, staff and children all notice and comment on a 'smart new haircut' of one of the children.

Children are keen to play outside. They enjoy a wide range of activities that support their physical development. Children relish digging in the large sand pit, looking for different letters and talking about what they uncover. Children enjoy using apparatus and show good physical skills when they balance on the ride-on car as it whizzes down the ramp. Children understand the expectations for behaviour. They listen and respond to staff and willingly help with tasks, such as tidying up.

Staff plan a wide variety of interesting and engaging activities for the children, drawing on what they can already do and extending their development further. For instance, when learning about dental hygiene, children are given sets of teeth to clean with brushes and dental tools to check for cavities. Staff listen carefully to the children and ask thought-provoking questions during activities.

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

• Staff are good role models. They are kind and caring, and form strong attachments to the children in their care. Staff get down to the children's level when playing and actively encourage them to join in with a variety of activities and new experiences. Outside, children discussed the texture and smells of different herbs and plants, as they crushed and rubbed the leaves in their hands.
• Children have many opportunities to learn about the world around them and to enjoy fresh air and exercise outdoors. For instance, staff take them out in the community to visit the local church, meadow or nursing home. Links with schools are strong. Hot dinners are collected from the village school, and older school children come to help with events at the nursery, such as sports day.
• The managers have a good vision for the nursery and offer an inclusive environment for all children. For example, activities such as gymnastics and tennis are subsidised for some children. The managers reflect on the provision and are constantly seeking ways to improve.
• Children follow good hygiene routines and experience social meal and snack times. However, staff sometimes overlook opportunities for children to complete tasks for themselves, to develop their independence further. For example, they serve food to the children, rather than allowing them to help themselves.
• Managers take the happiness and well-being of staff members very seriously. As a result, they retain a highly experienced staff team. Staff have a wealth of knowledge between them, are supported in their professional development and attend a range of training courses. Children benefit from the expert teaching skills that each staff member brings to the team.
• Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting and developing children's language. They gently repeat and pronounce words correctly for children who show emerging language, and introduce new vocabulary to them. Staff provide commentary as children play and engage in conversations with them. Staff and children sing songs together and everyone joins in with the actions.
• Children have many opportunities to work in groups, independently and with those of different ages. This contributes to good attitudes to learning, tolerance and understanding of others. However, at times, this mixed-age room can mean older children are not fully challenged in their learning or given opportunities to extend their experiences further.
• Staff work well with parents and other professionals to provide strong support to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They help to address gaps in their development and guide their learning to achieve well-planned targets. Parents are very positive about the care and consideration staff show towards their children, and feel informed about their progress.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• enhance staff's ability to fully extend and challenge children, to help them make the best possible progress in their learning and development
• strengthen opportunities for children to develop more independence during their everyday experiences.