Ladybirds Pre-school (Porchester Road)

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are greeted warmly. Staff are friendly, engaging and have deep bonds with children. This helps children feel safe and secure. Staff have high expectations for children. Children play cooperatively with each other. For example, they push cars back and forth between themselves.

Overall, children make good progress. They listen well to staff and have a good understanding of the boundaries. Children are repeatedly read to. They have favourite stories and they retell parts of the story confidently. Children bring their love of stories into their play. For instance, they look for snail shells out in the garden for 'Norman the slug' as they recreate the story. Children replicate their experiences in their play. For example, children set up a 'picnic' and use bean bags as 'crisp packets'. They expertly model the skills they have learned during lunchtimes. On this occasion, children demonstrate how to open the 'crisp packets' with a pinching movement.

Children have good understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. With adult support, they wipe their noses and wash their hands. Children have plenty of access to drinking water. Children know to put their empty cups into the bowl when they have finished. They take part in regular movement activities, such as yoga. This helps children build the skills they need for self-regulation.

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

• Staff have a good understanding about what they want children to learn. They also know what children can already do through regular discussion and observations. They use this knowledge to effectively build on children's learning and development.
• The manager frequently undertakes research to further extend her own professional development. The manager uses what she has learned to support children in their learning. For example, she focuses on teaching children to sit comfortably when they join in big group activities as she believes this will increase their concentration.
• The manager is passionate and determined that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) will receive the support they need from outside agencies. She ensures that referrals are made in a timely manner. She provides extensive information to support each referral.
• Children are independent. They learn the skills needed through everyday routines. Children take off their own shoes and can put them back on when needed. They try and open their food packets during lunch. Children are praised frequently for their efforts.
• Staff support children's language development well. This is through gentle repetition of key words. Staff also repeat words back to children clearly as they play together. Staff demonstrate they listen to children well. They repeat back their understanding of children's thoughts and views regularly.
• The manager devises strategies to support children with SEND; for example, the use of targeted adult support and the use of non-verbal language, such as signing. However, these strategies are not always implemented consistently by staff. This means that children's experiences may differ depending on the knowledge or experience of staff.
• Children are respected and their views valued. Children enjoy choosing the song for the morning group time and staff listen to their choice. Staff ask children before attending to their personal care. For example, staff ask children before they change their nappy.
• Parents speak incredibly highly of the communication they receive. They talk avidly about the support they receive from staff. Staff share ideas frequently to support children with their learning at home. This also includes the provision of resources, such as play dough.
• Children learn about a range of cultures and languages through their peers. They are excited to read books and use resources with characters that look like them. The manager celebrates everybody's culture as part of the curriculum.
• Children in receipt of additional funding make good progress. Staff use funding well to provide children with learning experiences that further support their learning and development. For example, staff provide story sacks and books for children to take home.
• The manager supports staff well. Staff regularly have supervision meetings to discuss their workloads and well-being. Staff comment positively on the support they receive. The manager enables staff to undertake training courses to further their professional development.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the quality of education even further, with emphasis on developing staff's implementation of strategies in place to support children with SEND.