Frimley Green Pre School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are very comfortable entering the pre-school and quickly engage in play. They are greeted by warm and happy staff who make children feel safe and secure. Children feel comfortable approaching staff and have a strong bond. This includes new children to the pre-school who are quick to settle. Children have a range of resources available to them, which are rotated to reflect children's interests. The pre-school has a free-flow, spacious garden, which extends children's learning opportunities. This is used in all weathers and staff provide appropriate clothing to enable this.

Children generally behave well and listen to instruction from staff. The pre-school is a calm environment as a result. This helps children to have a positive attitude to learning. Children interact well with each other and show respect for their peers and staff alike. This is seen through their willingness to share and take turns.

Communication and language are a focus of the pre-school. Staff are always talking to children and extending their language by asking questions. Staff support children who speak English as an additional language (EAL) and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) effectively. They extend learning by using symbols, word labels and photos to identify certain actions and objects. For example, they use a photo timetable of the day and have pictures to show the snack time routine.

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

• Staff have a good knowledge of all children in the pre-school. They are aware of children with SEND and/or EAL and their individual needs. They ensure learning opportunities are inclusive for all children. Staff adapt the environment to ensure all children make good progress. This is supported by their effective partnership and input from parents and other professionals. Staff offer a wide range of resources and plan activities based on children's interests. This helps children achieve well and make good progress. However, at times, staff do not prepare the environment effectively to fully support learning. For instance, sometimes there are too many resources available, and some children find this overwhelming.
• Staff encourage children to be independent during snack time. Children serve their own snack and pour their own drinks. They use tools and utensils to cut their own fruit, increasing in difficulty for older children. For example, they spread butter on toast with a knife. Children are encouraged to clear their plates and wash up after snack time. They learn about recycling by using labelled bins for different waste. Staff talk to children during snack time about recycling and hygiene. They consistently encourage independence and the use of fine motor skills to prepare them in readiness for school.
• Staff have a good working relationship with other settings. They communicate with other providers and local schools to ensure continuity of learning for children. A member of staff who has qualified teacher status has been employed to assist in helping to get children ready for the transition to school.
• Children are mostly well behaved in the pre-school. They respect their peers and staff and the resources in their environment. Children show kindness to each other and know how to share and take turns. However, on occasion, staff do not reinforce expectations consistently, such as reminding children not to run in the pre-school. This means that sometimes children are unclear about how to behave well.
• The manager is meticulous when it comes to continually assessing the needs of the pre-school. She ensures all staff training is current and up to date. There is a strong emphasis on continuous professional development. Staff attend additional training when needed, including a local pilot scheme to support communication and language.
• Staff feel fully supported by the manager and the committee and feel comfortable approaching them. Staff have regular meetings to discuss the pre-school and the needs of the children within it. They have staff meetings with the manager regularly and feel their well-being is a high priority. This continuous improvement ensures children are given every opportunity to learn and develop to their full potential.
• Parents compliment the pre-school on how comfortable they feel leaving their children in their care. They comment on how it feels like 'one big family' and staff are kind and caring. Parents are regularly provided with feedback regarding their child's progress at drop off and pick up, and receive a weekly newsletter. Staff work closely with parents to support their child's needs. Parents comment on the positive progress their children have made since the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes improved social skills, speech and language and physical skills.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review and refine the planning of the environment, to ensure resources are used to the very best effect to support children's learning
• support staff to implement a more consistent approach to helping children understand the rules and expectations of the setting.