Little Robins Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children settle well and are happy in the pre-school. They arrive confident and ready to play and explore. The caring staff greet the children by name as they arrive and ask them how they feel. Later in the session, children beam a big smile when staff show a genuine interest in what they have to say. This contributes to their sense of belonging and helps to develop their self-esteem.

Children spend a long time at activities of their choosing. Dough play is popular. As they play with this, children use their imagination well to create 'a creek' for their 'frog' and make pretend cakes for staff to eat. Children begin to place candles on the cake and staff ask, 'How many more do you think you need?' Children count one to six and comment, 'We need one more'. This contributes to children's growing mathematical skills.

Children have a positive attitude to their learning and development. They ask staff if they can help to set up the outdoor environment. Children busy themselves setting up the equipment. They put out the cones that represent the boundary around the play space to help keep them safe. Children ask for a dustpan and brush to clear the area of recently cut grass. They show motivation and a genuine enthusiasm to help others with pre-school routines.

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

• The manager shows dedication to ensure the pre-school meets the needs of the children, their families, and her staff. She values her staff and as a result, they feel appreciated and are happy to work at the pre-school. The manager is proactive in making changes to the pre-school and takes on board the ideas and opinions of everyone involved. For example, parents commented they wanted better communication. The manager then introduced an online communication system. Parents speak highly of the current two-way sharing of information. This helps to encourage continuity of learning between home and the pre-school. The manager and staff develop strong relationships with the parents. Comments from the parents include, the staff are 'kind and friendly' and, 'They nurture the children and bond with them.' Parents recognise learning that has taken place at pre-school and acknowledge the progress their children have made.
• Staff take their lead from children's play and what they are interested in. This helps them to support and plan for children's learning and build on what they already know and can do. Overall, staff recognise when to engage and interact with children. However, they occasionally place too much emphasis on observing children and not enough on consistently promoting or extending their learning.
• Staff support children's behaviour and attitudes well and act as super role models to the children. Staff give clear instructions and children understand what is expected of them. Staff support children to understand the consequences of their actions. For example, staff explain, 'If you leave this here, when you come back someone else may be playing with it.' This helps children to develop a positive attitude to the decisions they may make.
• Staff teach children about a healthy lifestyle and good oral hygiene. Children learn the importance of regularly brushing teeth. They use toothpaste to brush and clean pretend teeth. Children enjoy healthy fruit and vegetable snacks and staff talk to them about making healthy food choices from their lunch boxes.
• The manager is mindful that some children may not have as much access to outdoor play as indoor play at home. As a result, staff ensure that children can play outside every day. This helps to promote good physical skills and a healthy lifestyle.
• Staff have a strong focus on promoting children's independence and self-confidence. For example, when children ask for help to put their shoes on, staff suggest they 'have a try'. If they are not able to do this then staff say they will help them. Children are successful in this task and staff offer lots of praise.
• Children are curious in their play. They remain highly engaged in filling and emptying cups with sand in the tray. Children say they want to make sandcastles. Staff ask them what they may need to do this. Children confidently fetch their own water to add to the sand. This staff questioning encourages children to think and problem solve.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop the consistency of staff's engagement and interaction with children to fully support and extend each child's learning.