Johnstone Road Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this pre-school. They experience traditional, warm and nurturing care. The manager and her team are truly knowledgeable. They have a deep-rooted passion that ensures children make the best possible progress. Children benefit from highly effective and stimulating learning experiences. Staff have slowed down the teaching. This ensures new concepts, skills and knowledge are remembered and embedded over time. Children experience the joys of the piano. They learn about rhythm, and how to make movements to music. During circle time, children demonstrate their superb counting skills. They sing along to traditional songs and rhymes. Sometimes, they leave out the words, following actions from memory.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They fully understand the expected behaviours. Children show respect for people and their environments. They develop strong and secure relationships with adults and peers. They display kindness, and consideration for their friends. Children play wonderfully together. For example, they work together to create a giant tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur with construction materials.

Children show genuine levels of happiness and enjoyment. They are very highly motivated to take part in the exciting and engaging activities on offer. They enjoy being part of the band as they play instruments and march along to 'The Grand old Duke of York'.

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

• Children use communication and language incredibly well. Leaders have recognised the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular the impact on children's developing speech and language. They have adapted their curriculum as a result. They place a high priority on developing children's communication and language. As a result, children speak with incredible confidence and fluency. They engage in exquisite conversations with both adults and peers. They use their extensive vocabulary to explain what a carnivore is. They tell their friends that a Tyrannosaurus Rex only eats meat. Children have developed a love of books and storytelling, often creating their own.
• Children's learning is progressive and skilfully sequenced. Highly knowledgeable adults understand the importance of this. They know what skills and knowledge children already have. They use this information to build upon children's already extensive knowledge. For example, they build upon children's colour recognition through matching activities. Some children have secured their knowledge of colours. They progress to learning about patterns and sequences. Children are building superb mathematical concepts.
• All children are wonderfully independent. Initially, children follow picture sequences for toileting, hand-washing, and hanging up coats and bags. Adults give children the space and time to develop these skills. They provide sensitive coaching, recognising when children might need some assistance. For example, children peel their fruit and cheese, and manage personal hygiene tasks. Children develop resilience and the ability to overcome setbacks.
• Children with special educational needs and /or disabilities (SEND) are supported incredibly well. Staff work in partnership with parents and other agencies, to provide supportive, personalised plans. As a result, gaps in children's learning and development are closing rapidly.
• Staff provide children with an extensive range of experiences to learn about the community. For example, they put on a concert for the elderly and send letters, and food hampers to the homeless. They visit local parks and the beach. Visits from the fire service and local farmer provide a window into a wider world. Children explore their vehicles and learn about their roles. These experiences shape their understanding of the wider community and their place in it.
• Leaders are inspirational. The manager has extensive early years' experience. This shapes the ever-evolving and adaptable curriculum. There is a sharp focus on curriculum impact. All staff regularly review the provision and the impact on children's learning. The ambitious manager and her team access regular, targeted training and development. This consistently translates into improved teaching.
• Parents are actively engaged in the setting. They share vital information from the start about their children. This is developed regularly over time. Staff communicate with parents about children's progress and development. Parents offer extremely high praise about the provision. They comment that they feel blessed to have a place at the setting, and speak with affection about the manager and her team.