Little Bears Forest Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thoroughly enjoy coming into the pre-school, which has an extremely warm and welcoming feel. Children's behaviour is exceptional and staff use key phrases, including 'love and kindness', when supporting children to help a friend or take turns. Staff are very skilled at recognising positive behaviour and praise children by using positive language or by giving a thumbs up. Children also thank their friends for sharing with them. This helps to create an environment where everybody is respectful and caring.

Children are supported to settle in exceedingly well by staff, and this builds on children's confidence to talk to others and make new friendships. Children are taught about their bodies from a young age. For example, they use strategies that help them carry out 'happy breathing'. This helps them to feel calm and supports them to regulate their emotions.

The pre-school has a tremendous community feel. For example, staff have developed excellent relationships with the local university and local police. This helps children to develop a sense of belonging and build on their understanding of the world around them.

Children make exceptional progress in their learning. Activities provided are highly stimulating and have a carefully planned purpose. For example, children harvest the beetroot they have grown in the pre-school allotment to make paint that they use to make pictures and patterns. This gives children a huge sense of pride and helps to build on their self-confidence.

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

• The pre-school has a wonderful allotment that is carefully looked after by the children and staff. Children are fully involved in maintaining and harvesting their crops, which include cabbages and tomatoes. Staff use this area to excite and inspire children, and plan highly stimulating experiences. For example, children predict how big the beetroot will be and what they think it will look like, just before they pull it out of the ground. These activities thoroughly support children to think critically and extend their language development.
• The pre-school is exceptional at supporting children to take care of their mental health. Staff are highly skilled at providing opportunities for children to think about how they are feeling and why their brain is making them feel a certain way. This helps children to understand how their brains work and consider how they are feeling.
• Children are incredibly well supported to develop their independence. For example, staff hold a mirror to help them wipe their nose and encourage them to wash and dry their hands by themselves, after going to the toilet. This helps to build resilience and makes children feel a sense of pride.
• There is extremely effective support in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff are highly skilled at supporting their needs and helping them achieve their next steps of learning. For example, staff skilfully use sign language to support children's communication and a timeline to show what is coming next, which they also share with parents. This helps children to feel very safe and secure in pre-school and at home.
• Parents say that their children are thriving in the pre-school. Parents are 'over the moon' with the care their children receive and feel enormously valued and included in their children's learning and the progress they make. For example, parents are invited to a workshop where staff share carefully considered practical ways to promote learning at home. This helps the pre-school work with parents to provide a consistent approach which benefits children's learning.
• Staff feel tremendously well supported by leaders. The manager takes time to ensure all staff are happy and have the knowledge and skills they need to carry out their role effectively. For example, staff are offered well-being 'goody bags' to ensure they are taking care of themselves. This provides an exemplary working environment where everyone is valued and feels part of the team.
• Leaders have a sharp focus on how the pre-school delivers its ethos. The management team consistently strives to be better and to enhance what the pre-school offers. For example, they include the whole staff team, parents and children when they seek ideas on what they are already delivering. This inclusive process ensures the pre-school continues to have high expectations that keep children's learning and development at the heart of everything they do.