Little Owls Community Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enjoy their time at the pre-school. They smile and chat to their friends as they confidently arrive and are warmly welcomed by staff. Children are eager to get involved and ready to learn. They make good progress through accessing a well-planned curriculum. Staff get to know children well. They plan effectively to support their individual needs and interests. Children concentrate on their chosen activities and demonstrate that they remember what they have learned. They talk about the different foods they have eaten for snack. Older children discuss their knowledge of food groups and having a balanced diet. They use new vocabulary, such as 'carbohydrate', as they have fun listing all the foods they know in this group.

Children behave well. They are kind and polite to each other. Children create an enormous drawing together on paper on the floor. They lie down and focus on the marks they make. Children say please and thank you as they take turns to use the different coloured pens. They organise the resources among themselves and encourage other children to join in. Children make positive comments about each other's pictures. They draw faces and describe the expressions as 'grumpy' and 'excited', using their knowledge of the language of emotions. They enjoy working together and demonstrate they are proud of their achievements.

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

• Staff provide children with plenty of opportunities to be active. Children giggle and jump up and down as they copy a staff member enthusiastically leading a fitness routine. Outside in the garden, children move around playing chasing games. They balance on springy stepping stones and wobbly wooden ramps. Children develop their core strength and benefit from plenty of fresh air and exercise.
• Staff engage in meaningful conversations with children. They enhance their understanding of the world around them. Staff teach children about the different types of buildings that people live in. Children are keen to talk about their own homes and families as they draw pictures. Staff support children to develop an understanding of what makes them similar and different to others.
• Children develop the strength in their hands. They explore ways to manipulate play dough. They practise using pincers and carefully cutting with scissors. This supports their fine motor skills and prepares them well for writing when they eventually move to school.
• Staff encourage children to develop a love for books. Children enjoy looking at books independently and with their friends. Staff read to children throughout the day. They use props and puppets to support children's understanding. They pause to let children fill in the missing words to familiar stories. However, on occasions, staff's arrangement of group story times does not ensure all children are kept engaged and involved.
• Staff form good relationships with parents. They share information about children's progress and ideas to continue their learning at home. For instance, staff send books home for parents to read to children. They support them to help children with toilet training and managing behaviour.
• The manager uses additional funding thoughtfully to provide children with experiences they may not usually access. For example, she arranges sports coaching sessions to help build children's confidence. The manager organises a visit from a mobile farm to introduce farm animals to children that may have never encountered them.
• Staff support children to carry out tasks for themselves. At snack time, children wash their hands and collect their own plates and cups. They find their own place mats and work together to set the table. Staff use the opportunity to support children's growing independence. They sing to children as they wait for snack to be served. However, children wait for a long time, which delays them in returning to their play.
• The manager ensures staff have the skills and knowledge to identify gaps in children's learning or delays in development. They work together to put in place effective strategies to help those that need it. The manager seeks swift support from external agencies, where necessary. Staff have high expectations for children. They work hard to help all children achieve the best possible outcomes.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• improve further the organisation of snack time, so that children do not have to wait for long periods and their play is not disrupted
• strengthen the implementation of group activities, such as story time, to fully engage all children.