Honeypot Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish at this wonderful pre-school. Staff are exceptionally welcoming to parents and children. They create warm bonds with them. Children settle very quickly due to staff's highly effective skills in catering for each child's needs. Staff focus on children's personal, social and emotional development when they start at the pre-school and throughout their time in the pre-school. Children learn to play cooperatively and are extremely kind with one another. They build excellent relationships and have fun together.

Staff and children enjoy singing and reading stories regularly. They explore and play eagerly in the rooms. Children also extend their learning in the exciting and extremely well-resourced garden area. For example, children move freely between the outdoor and inside as they pretend to cook. They use scissors to cut the herbs that they have planted to add to their food creation. Children learn to take safe risks as they cut vegetables with knives and use a range of kitchen utensils. They then take their 'cake' to the indoor kitchen to pretend to bake it. Children freely and confidently explore the space created for them.

The key-person system is inspirational. Children fully benefit from the successful, continuous support which they have between the pre-school and home. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who who speak English as an additional language, thrive in their learning. The outstanding curriculum and exceptional teaching ensure that children are engrossed in their play and in adult-led activities. Children are capable learners and make rapid progress in all areas of learning.

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

• Managers are ambitious and staff share their views on how to create an exceptional curriculum to provide children with what they need. They have taken time to invest in their team and work in an inspiring harmony. All managers and staff attend diverse training opportunities to have a sequence of skills to support the children in their care.
• Children explore books, writing opportunities and mathematics in all of the areas which they play. They take part in small-group activities with great enthusiasm. For example, children enjoy the scribbling and the drawing clubs to develop their literacy and creative skills. They have outstanding access to learning mathematics. For instance, children enjoy an exceptionally well-resourced water tray with plenty of tools, while cooperatively learning mathematical language with staff and one another.
• Staff use their knowledge of what the children know and can do to build on their learning. Throughout the pre-school, they plan activities using information about children's current interests. Staff find teachable moments and capture children's attention throughout the session. For instance, children play with water and add some balancing pebbles to their play. Staff take the opportunity to praise children's creativity and to teach them about waterfalls.
• Children with SEND and in receipt of additional funding are excellently supported. The communication with parents and with outside agencies is exceptional. All children are comfortable with their daily routines and show excellent progress given their starting points of learning. Parents emotionally praise the difference that staff make to their own and their children's lives.
• Staff and managers are highly skilled in teaching children about where they live and people around them. They hold discussions with children about the royal family and events happening in Britain. These are seen in displays, books and discussions that children hold between themselves and staff. The managers ensure that resources celebrate children's backgrounds. They involve parents in highly effective ways to take part in activities and outings with their children and staff. Children learn to be inclusive and acceptive of people in their community.
• Children learn the importance of living healthy lifestyles. They are provided with healthy snacks that they prepare themselves when they decide to eat. Children access water, milk and pour their drinks independently. They take a huge pride in being able to look after themselves. Staff place picture frames on the snack table to encourage discussions with children while they eat. For instance, children look at a picture of a rainy day on the table and discuss about the differences of the weather in the picture and the weather on the day. Staff are exceptionally skilled in promoting children's language development.
• The managers and staff have secure procedures to ensure that the pre-school is safe for children. They risk assess play areas and involve children in learning about how they can keep safe while at the pre-school and at home.