Matlock Pre-School Playgroup

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders and staff work in partnership with families to ensure that every child achieves and makes the progress they are capable of. Staff continuously undertake observations which help them to build an accurate picture of children's learning and skills. Consequently, staff have a deep understanding of children's individual needs.

Staff consistently ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with barriers to their learning get off to a flying start. They implement purposeful plans that support all children to move on in their learning. Leaders have robust systems in place to support all staff to develop a secure understanding of the graduated approach. Staff swiftly involve other professionals when necessary. They incorporate a wide range of highly effective strategies to ensure all children are fully included and effectively supported to make rapid progress.

Leaders and managers ensure that additional funding is used effectively to support children's specific needs. For example, well-considered resources have been purchased to support specific aspects of children's physical development. Inviting areas have been carefully developed to help children to manage their emotions and extend their sensory play. Regular review meetings help parents to understand the impact that interventions are having on their children's progress.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Children benefit from a stimulating and well-planned curriculum that motivates them to learn and enables all children to gain the most from the exciting play experiences. Leaders have embedded a highly effective assessment process that allows staff to continually review children's progress. In turn, leaders and staff persistently review and refine purposeful and ambitious learning experiences which help all children to thrive.

Staff consistently foster children's communication and language skills by engaging them effectively in conversation, asking relevant questions and introducing new vocabulary. This ignites children's understanding of and interest in words as they talk with enthusiasm about different types of food they like. They recall new words, such as 'spaghetti', and they have fun as they repeat 'ravioli' which broadens their vocabulary.

Staff skilfully draw children in, playing alongside them and modelling new skills, such as different techniques to roll dough to extend children's physical and creative skills. Staff successfully promote children's mathematical language through play as they count objects, compare sizes and talk about shapes and patterns.

Highly effective storytelling promotes a deep love of books and reading from a young age. Children develop positive relationships with one another because staff prioritise opportunities which teach appropriate social skills.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children grasp new knowledge and skills quickly, so they progress well through the curriculum. Children are confident and capable communicators. They develop a wide and expressive vocabulary as they extend their language skills so that they successfully share their thoughts and ideas.

Children develop positive social skills. They actively seek out others to play with collaboratively on joint tasks, knowing that their contributions are valued. Any children who experience speech delays are swiftly supported by staff and professionals who put precise and appropriate plans in place. This effectively supports children to catch up quickly and achieve well from their starting points.

Children develop coordination and strength in their hands as they access a rich variety of activities that help children refine these physical skills. As children secure these skills, they successfully move on to making marks as they paint and draw.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

Leaders and staff create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and encouraged to contribute. They set clear expectations for behaviour which they help children to understand and follow. Consequently, children are kind, helpful and respectful. Children show empathy to their friends. They consider how they could help, for example, by offering a favourite toy. Staff praise these thoughtful gestures.

Children have ample opportunity to work collaboratively with their peers as they design circuits outside for wheeled toys. They take turns to stop at the petrol pump to refuel their vehicles, sharing their knowledge of different types of cars with one another.

Well-established and embedded daily routines, help all children to understand expectations and feel secure throughout the day, as they know what they need to do and what happens next. Staff understand and are sensitive to children's individual needs. They carefully adapt the support they provide and the way they communicate when asking questions and giving explanations. This enables all children to participate in the full range of activities and engage positively in their learning and play.

Leaders have clear expectations for children's attendance and share the many benefits for children of regularly accessing their early education with parents.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Staff show the utmost respect for children when carrying out care routines. They consider children's privacy and dignity when completing nappy changes with younger children. Staff ensure that older children feel supported when using the toilet, while also promoting their independence skills.

Children learn to take care of their own safety and that of others. For example, when playing inside, they learn to walk and move carefully around the furniture to prevent accidents. Children's emotional safety is a high priority for staff. Their insightful knowledge of children's needs and preferences supports the development of positive and compassionate relationships with others.

Staff give children's physical development high attention. Children delight in spending sustained periods of time outside and confidently use equipment to practise and extend their whole-body movements, including climbing and balancing.

Staff work closely with families to gather and share information about children's health and care routines. This helps staff to understand how they can best support children to thrive and enjoy their time at the setting. Staff provide regular updates for parents and carers to promote the best outcomes for children. For example, they provide information about healthy eating and help children to develop good oral hygiene routines.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders have a thorough and precise overview of the provision. Their regular reviews are highly successful in identifying areas for further improvement. For example, in consultation with staff and trustees, leaders identified that some information could be made clearer for parents about the key-person system and the curriculum. Parents comment that they feel reassured by regular progress updates and talk confidently about what children are learning. This strengthening of parent partnerships ensures that families are fully involved and are supported to extend children's learning at home.

Staff report feeling fully supported in their roles and that leaders value their work and give high regard to their wellbeing. Leaders have deeply embedded systems that support ongoing professional development. These enhance staff teaching skills further and ensure high-quality interactions with children. For example, staff attend training events, have regular supervision sessions and work collaboratively with other professionals to further their expertise.

Staff demonstrate high levels of commitment to enabling all children to achieve the best start in life. They strive to ensure that all children benefit from an ambitious curriculum that provides a secure foundation in all areas of learning. This helps to equip children as they move on to the next stage in their education journey.