Horringer Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Some children struggle to separate from their main carer on entry to the setting. Staff manage this sensitively and build positive relationship with the children and parents. Children become familiar with the consistent routines. They know what happens next at any time during the session. Staff give children notice of when activities need to change. They value what children are doing and give them time to finish their activity. Overall, children develop a positive attitude to learning. They choose what they want to play with and readily lead their own play. Staff support children to help tidy away toys at the end of the session.

Staff help children learn to play harmoniously together. They show children how to use sand timers as a visual aid to taking turns with popular resources. Children understand that when the timer runs out it is someone else's turn. Staff support children's developing communication and language skills. They introduce vocabulary through stories and conversation. Children sometimes listen to stories and contribute their own ideas. Children play imaginatively, based on their own experiences. They style the hair of dolls and each other. Children pretend to use the stethoscope to listen to each other's hearts when playing at being doctors.

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

• The management team recognises that the setting has been through a period of unrest. This is now resolved, and the team are working hard to re-establish the highest quality care and learning experience for children. Staff work well together as part of a committed and motivated team.
• Staff benefit from an effective programme of supervision that manages their performance and supports their professional development. They have opportunities to share their skills and learn from their colleagues, to improve practice. However, documentation relating to staff is not readily accessible when needed. For example, at this inspection, the provider was not able to demonstrate the qualifications of all staff.
• Staff know the children well. They observe children as they play and evaluate their observations. This supports them to identify where children are in their learning and what they need to do to promote their continuing progress. Staff plan and provide a wide range of activities that support children's good progress across all areas of learning.
• Staff are busy and often distracted by routine activities and housekeeping. At these times, children do not receive the best quality of interaction from staff. In addition, staff do not always notice what children are doing and miss opportunities to extend their learning. This does not promote the highest quality of teaching or encourage children to remain engaged in activities of their own choosing.
• Children are given choice about what they want to do. For example, they vote whether they want to use musical instruments or build towers. When the activity is decided upon, staff give children further choice about whether they want to participate. Their decisions are respected. Children enjoy using the musical instruments and readily follow the instructions to play loudly, quietly, slowly, quickly and to stop.
• Children are helped to learn about the importance of good hygiene routines. They have regard for their own personal hygiene needs, relevant to their age and stage of development. Children are encouraged to be physically active in the garden that is well resourced for physical play.
• Children are looked after by caring staff, who offer reassurance for children who are unsettled. Some children are new to the setting and need support to manage their emotions. Children are offered cuddles and hugs. Each child has a named person to take responsibility for managing their care and learning. The key person builds friendly and trusting relationships with parents.
• Parents report effective partnerships with staff. They state that they are kept well informed about how well their children are learning and developing. Parents hold staff in high regard, describing them as 'caring and friendly'.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff teaching skills to help them recognise when children are not actively engaged in activities, so that they can refocus children's attention and concentration
• deploy staff more effectively, so that they are not distracted by routine and housekeeping activities
• organise written information about staff, so that it is readily accessible when needed.