Longoak Pre-school

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children come into pre-school happily. They are greeted by warm, kind and caring staff. Children eagerly give their key person a hug as they come in. They use their key person for reassurance if needed. Children learn to identify different emotions they may be feeling. For example, staff have labelled pots with the different emotions and colours found in the 'Colour Monster', such as yellow for happy. Children place their peg in the different-coloured pots to let staff know how they are feeling today. Staff skilfully support them through this and talk to children about what they are feeling and why. They take care to validate children's feelings.

Staff encourage children to problem solve and critically think. For example, staff prompt children to think about what will happen when they mix cornflour and water together. They think through ways to mix it together successfully. Staff develop children's mathematical knowledge as they play. For example, staff encourage children to measure the worms they have found to see which is the longest.

Children learn to be independent through everyday routine tasks. For example, staff support them as they learn to use tongs to serve themselves snack. They are also encouraged to try things, such as managing their own personal care needs. For example, children learn how to wash their own hands.

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

• The manager is passionate about her provision and the changes they have made recently. The staff have worked tirelessly to improve the provision and outcomes for children. The manager has created a culture of regular reflection and evaluation as they continue to evolve.
• The manager and staff have worked together to create a curriculum that is now ambitious, builds on what children know and is designed for the specific children in their care. There are clear aims for children's overall learning. For example, children work towards being 'creative cookers' and 'road safety rangers'.
• Staff use observation and assessment tools to track children's progress in relation to the overall aims for learning. They know what progress their key children have made and broadly what they need to learn next. However, children's individual next steps for learning are not yet consistently precise and focused to support children to make the best possible progress.
• The manager ensures that they provide children with experiences that they may not ordinarily have. For example, staff take children on trips on the local bus. This helps develop their knowledge of the world around them.
• Children, including children with special education needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in their learning and development. Any gaps in children's development are quickly identified and support is put in place. This includes making swift referrals to the relevant professionals, such as speech and language therapy.
• Children who speak English as additional language are supported in a range of ways. For example, staff learn familiar words in children's home language to help them feel safe and secure. This helps children settle in quickly.
• Overall, children know the routines and the expectations of their behaviour. However, at times, children struggle with transitions, such as after lunchtime. This impacts on children's behaviour as it becomes more chaotic. As a result, children are not able to re-engage in purposeful play and learning as easily.
• Children adore finding bugs out in the nature garden. They are keen to play with the creatures they find. Staff teach children to be kind and caring towards living things. For example, staff encourage children to think about how the snail might feel being taken away from their home. These gentle prompts result in children recognising that the creatures would prefer to stay in their natural habitat instead of going home in their pockets.
• Parents comment that children 'thrive' at the pre-school. They explain how much staff care for their children. Parents comment that communication between themselves and staff works very well as they feel that they are kept informed and are included as much as possible. Parents explain that staff have instilled a sense of community amongst everyone.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• plan more precisely for children's next steps in learning
• review and develop the organisations of transitions, particularly at lunchtime so children swiftly re-engage in their learning and play.