Little Bookham & Effingham Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy and leave their parents with confidence. They all settle quickly and are extremely eager to start their day. Children are inquisitive learners and demonstrate high levels of engagement. The confidence and independence that children demonstrate when exploring their environment are impressive. Staff build superb relationships with the children and are active participants in children's play.

Staff ignite children's curiosity through the rich and varied experiences they offer. Children are motivated to join in and engage with these meaningful activities. They especially enjoy being outdoors and exploring the many opportunities with enthusiasm. For example, children's excitement is infectious as they master the climbing wall in order to observe dog walkers on the local field.

Children have lots of opportunities to learn new skills and use a variety of tools. For example, they use dough and a range of cutters to make 'cakes' for the staff. Cakes are carefully put into the role-play oven, and children wait patiently for the 'cake to cook'. This helps them to develop their physical and creative skills. Staff know the children and their interests very well, which is reflected in the strong attachments children have with them. This supports children's emotional well-being.

Staff and children take regular trips out, visiting the local farm, theme park and school library and taking walks in nature. Children are polite, for example, they spontaneously say 'excuse me' to gain staff members' attention.

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

• The manager is a reflective and enthusiastic professional. She confidently leads a team of very dedicated staff, which continually makes positive changes to the environment and teaching. She carries out regular staff observations, some of which are videoed for a more in-depth analysis. This has a positive impact on outcomes for children. The manager places a significant emphasis on staff well-being. Staff benefit from regular meetings and targeted training, for example on behaviour management and using adrenaline auto-injectors.
• Children take part in activities that are planned effectively to build on their existing knowledge. For example, children use magnets to find metal objects around the room after building with magnetic blocks. Staff ask a range of questions, which children answer confidently. However, these questions are not yet extending the children's critical thinking skills and developing their ideas. This means that children's knowledge and understanding are not always enhanced to the highest possible level.
• Children's behaviour is exemplary, and staff are excellent role models. Children understand boundaries and rules. They respect the resources they have in the pre-school and help to take care of them. They hold books carefully and put them back on the shelf where they belong when finished with them. Children respond immediately when they hear the music to capture their attention, giving them a warning that it is nearly time to tidy away. They then enthusiastically join in clearing the room and packing away the toys.
• Children are beginning to recognise the similarities and differences between themselves and others through a range of enjoyable activities. For example, a visitor came to the pre-school in her sari to show the children the bright, vibrant colours. However, staff need to consider how they can extend children's experiences when learning about cultures and diversity in the world.
• Staff confidently support children's early language development. They engage children in meaningful conversations during play. Staff introduce new language when they talk with children, read stories and play games with them. For example, children are captivated by the wooden rainbow, taking it apart and rocking the colourful bands before reassembling in size order. Children eagerly participate as staff model words such as 'smooth', 'multicoloured', 'arch' and 'colourful'.
• Staff support children to learn how they can live healthy lifestyles. Children are provided with a range of balanced meals during snack and lunchtime.
• Parents speak very highly about the pre-school. They feel well supported by the staff. Parents appreciate that staff keep them informed about their children's progress and provide suggestions as to how they can continue to support the children's learning at home. They enjoy taking home learning packs, which enable children to practise new skills, such as developing their finger muscles by adding pegs to a numbered hedgehog.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• increase the use of effective staff interactions that extend children's critical thinking skills, enabling them to make even better progress
• build on the already good activities to help children form a greater knowledge and understanding about diversity and other cultures.