Funny Bunnies

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are extremely happy at this warm and friendly pre-school. They settle quickly and engage in highly motivating and challenging activities, showing high levels of concentration.

Children's behaviour is excellent. They consistently follow the rules and routines of the setting. For example, they stop playing and sit down for registration when they hear the bell.

Children show a strong desire to learn and show extremely high levels of focus. For example, children spend a lot of time making pretend rockets, copying a character from a story.

Staff expertly create an environment that feels like home. This helps children feel safe and secure. For example, children confidently explore and engage in play, using real-life resources, such as cans of food, empty perfume bottles and kitchen utensils. They take risks in their play and use exceptional vocabulary to express their ideas.

Staff have extremely high expectations of all children. Children show exceptional attitudes to their play and learning. They share their achievements with staff, demonstrating superb language and communication skills. For example, children eagerly explain, 'I'm balancing the ball on this bat. I can do it even when I wobble it.'

Children make excellent progress in all areas of their learning. They develop plenty of confidence, skills and knowledge, ready for their move into school.

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

• Staff expertly construct the curriculum to build on what children already know. They provide extremely motivating learning opportunities, to help children develop and extend their skills and knowledge.
• Staff swiftly identify when children need additional support. They expertly plan and deliver activities to close any gaps in learning. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, benefit from highly skilled staff and make substantial progress in their learning and development.
• Leadership and management at the pre-school are inspirational. The deeply knowledgeable manager and deputy act as excellent role models for all staff. Continuous professional development for staff is a priority that children benefit from. All staff show high levels of commitment and dedication to their role.
• Partnerships with parents are excellent. Parents comment on how happy their children are and the rapid progress they make. They refer to staff as being friendly and very supportive. Parents comment that 'staff here are born to do this job.'
• Children show immense pride in their achievements and their independence. For example, they beam with pride when they find their name as they self-register. They thrive on the opportunity to wear the apron and be 'snack helper'. Children love the challenge of pouring milk from small teapots into cups and serving fruit to their friends.
• Staff make children's communication and language a priority. They ask questions and challenge children to work out problems. They give children plenty of time to think and respond. For example they ask children what they could use to make eyes for a model they are creating. Children share their ideas and independently search for additional resources to complete their models.
• Children benefit enormously from the 'story of the week' and the 'word wall.' Staff use the 'word wall' to teach children new vocabulary they hear in the 'story of the week'. For example, staff teach children the meaning of the word 'internet' from a story about a chicken using a computer. They provide computer keyboards for children to use and explore. Children successfully use this unfamiliar word during their play.
• All staff are extremely reflective and enthusiastic. They constantly strive to provide the best opportunities they can for the children they care for. Children feel safe and secure and thrive from the relationships they make with staff.
• Staff use funding superbly to provide extra support and resources to help children. Parents comment on the positive impact this support has on their children's progress.
• Children benefit immensely from close links with the school. For example, children use the school's outdoor area and equipment and visit the school. Children make smooth transitions into school.
• Staff enthusiastically read stories and use puppets with the children who confidently recreate and retell these stories.