Greenfield Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish at this exceptional pre-school. They are greeted with care and kindness by the warm staff. Children are highly independent. For example, they hang up their coats, collect their own drinks and make choices in their play. Staff are clear about what children need to learn next. They use playful learning experiences such as making play dough to develop children's fine motor skills. Furthermore, children are given challenging activities as they make predictions about cause and effect. For example, they test out objects that roll using ramps. The skilful staff take opportunities to teach the meaning of words such as 'steeper' and 'predict'. Children develop a love for outdoor learning. They pedal ride-on toys, skilfully climb up and down the slide and engage in creating pictures with water and paint brushes. Children learn about the world around them, such as caring for plants and life cycles as they plant seeds and water them in the garden. They discuss the needs of incubating eggs and hatching chicks. As a result, children make significant progress in their learning and development.

Children are taught what is right and wrong. They learn how to manage their own feelings and behaviours. Staff are excellent role models at showing children how to manage conflicts and resolutions. For example, when children appear upset, staff put into practice the 'feelings shop' effectively. This helps children to name their emotions. As a result, children take responsibilities for their own actions and demonstrate exemplary behaviour.

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

• Leaders have designed a well-thought-out, challenging curriculum that helps all children to achieve their full potential. Staff hold exceptional knowledge about what interests and engages children and the skills they need to develop further in their learning.
• Staff ensure that the curriculum is embedded and consistent across all areas of learning and development. Children become fully immersed in the activities on offer. This is because staff have taken the time to have regular catch-up meetings with each other and decide together what the environment should look like for all children. For example, when children are interested in animals, staff set up playful experiences that fully engage children in their interests. As a result, children show excellent attitudes for learning.
• Children are developing their physical skills. Staff stand back and wait for moments to steer learning experiences for children. For example, when children show an interest in playing with balls, staff direct this into a game of catching and throwing. Staff intentionally teach children skills to enhance their listening and attention skills, in preparation for their move on to school.
• Children are developing strong mathematical skills. They build towers using foam bricks. Staff engage children with curiosity through asking open-ended questions. Children measure and check they have built a tower that is a meter long. Additionally, children count how many cars there are and carefully match them to the correct numerals. This helps children to use mathematical language through everyday experiences.
• The knowledgeable staff encourage children to be independent learners. Children select from a range of snacks, such as cornflakes, apples, peppers and cucumber. Children know the routine well. When they have finished, they wash their own plates. In addition, staff encourage parents to provide healthy lunch boxes for their children. Staff speak constantly to children, telling them they are going to be strong with all that fruit, and it is going to give them so much energy for the rest of their day. This supports children's understanding of a healthy lifestyle.
• Parents report that the staff are brilliant. They say the care and love for their children is exemplary. Parents feel that they are kept well informed through the regular newsletters they receive from the pre-school. They comment that their children's language has flourished since coming to the pre-school and the support they receive is fantastic.
• Staff have embedded effective transitions for children. The pre-school carries out home visits before new children start. Parents are encouraged to attend stay and play sessions each term. Furthermore, getting children ready for school is a priority for this setting. They work alongside local schools to ensure children transition smoothly from the pre-school into school.
• The leadership team is exceptional and leads by example. Leaders evaluate their provision and explain why they keep up to date with their own knowledge through reading and research in early years. For example, in the moment planning is embedded extremely well to ensure all children swiftly make outstanding progress.