Paint Pots Preschool & Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are warmly welcomed into a friendly and happy environment. The youngest children receive sensitive interactions from staff. Staff are gentle in their approach and make themselves emotionally available to support their needs. The staff respect and value the children's thoughts and opinions and engage in meaningful play. Children are kind, caring and link up together to help each other and share experiences. They have positive relationships and are content in their environment.

Children enjoy the freedom of playing and investigating while being outdoors. They have opportunities to go outside in all weathers. Children move around with pleasure and have become confident climbers. Children actively seek challenges, and staff give them time and space to learn new skills. For instance, children skilfully walk around on small bucket stilts. They show pride in their achievements, and staff encouragingly praise them. Children develop a positive sense of self.

Staff organise activities that are purposeful with focused learning intentions. For example, children enjoy playing in a tray filled with water, jugs, pots and cups. While playing, staff encourage children to carefully pour water into open cups, which consolidates their physical development and independence skills. With opportunities to pour their own drinks at mealtimes, they quickly master this skill.

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

• There is an ambitious and clear intention for children's learning across all rooms. Staff are consistent in their approach to supporting and enhancing the children's development. The curriculum is well structured, with a strong emphasis on supporting the children to develop their communication and language skills over time. Staff have effective systems in place to promote speech and increase confidence. They give children sufficient opportunities to improve their abilities in all areas of learning and development.
• Staff carry out daily risk assessments to ensure the environment is safe for children to play and explore. They involve the children in helping them locate and minimise potential hazards. Children develop awareness of how to keep themselves safe. For example, children explain that the wet floor sign is there so that people do not slip over. Staff have helped them embed strong foundations to problem-solve, identify and manage risk.
• Staff have a positive approach to supporting and managing the children's behaviour. They teach children to understand each other's feelings and be kind. Staff help the children to negotiate, problem-solve and recognise their own and other's emotions. They encourage teamwork when supporting each other with tasks. For example, children work together to move benches in preparation for an activity. They help each other to unpack the shopping and carry heavy items together to the kitchen. With positive role modelling, children learn how to share, respect each other and follow simple rules and boundaries.
• Children learn about the importance of oral health and how to keep their teeth clean. Some children use tissues to wipe their noses and independently wash their hands before meals. However, some staff are not consistent when reinforcing self-care skills and hygiene routines. Therefore, children do not always learn about the importance of simple good hygiene practices so that they understand what keeps them healthy and well.
• Parents are complimentary about the support they receive. They speak highly of managers and staff and express their gratitude for the tailored care they have for their children. Parents feel their concerns will be listened to and handled appropriately. With effective communication, they feel they are kept updated with what their children are learning and the progress that they make. This helps parents to support their children's learning at home.
• Managers have a clear vision for the setting and have developed a culture of teamwork and respect. The enthusiastic and committed staff report that managers support their well-being. They feel valued, appreciated and part of a well-established team. Staff are given regular opportunities to discuss their performance and their key children's development. They discuss training needs to further enhance their knowledge and professional development. Managers are devoted to continual improvements to deliver the best outcomes for children and their families.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen opportunities for children to learn about good hygiene practice to further improve their self-care and independence skills.