Planet Tiny Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this setting. They have many meaningful opportunities and experiences to practise what they learn. Children quickly master skills they need for the next stages in their learning. For example, they pretend to be geologists and wash rocks they have found on their nature trail. Children learn about different patterns, as they use small hammers use magnifying glasses and to look more closely at the geodes. They compare size and colour of amethysts and agate pieces. Children record their findings using paper and pens to draw or make marks. This helps them to make learning meaningful, relevant, and memorable.

Staff follow children's curiosity and children's lead, to maximise their learning. For instance, children's imaginary experiences are superb. They make shopping lists before they go to their role play shop. Staff skilfully ask children what ingredients they will need to make pies and soup. Children explain each ingredients they will need to make tomato soup. Staff provide knives and chopping boards for them to practise carefully cutting vegetables to add to their soup. Children have an exceptional knowledge of how to keep themselves safe. They independently risk assess during learning opportunities.

Staff have the highest expectations for all children. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are very clear about the rules and boundaries in the nursery. Children feel highly valued, as the nursery is filled with displays of their work that celebrates their achievements. Children beam with pride as they can choose to make their own art displays, using digital cameras.

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

• The leadership team is inspirational. The manager and her team are passionate, dedicated and committed in their drive to continuously improve the setting. The manager has a detailed knowledge of the skills and strengths across the team and considers these carefully when deploying staff. A high emphasis is placed on staff's well-being. Staff benefit from regular meetings to support their practice, and they continuously reflect and disseminate information from their training sessions. Incisive self-evaluation is highly effective.
• Partnerships with parents are exceptional. Parents are very eager to share highly positive feedback about the nursery. They describe staff as 'amazing' and say that they 'truly care' about their children. Parents receive a wealth of information and attend workshops, where they learn about the benefits of child development and play. This inspires parents to support their children's learning at home.
• Staff are excellent role models. Children develop and understand their emotions effectively. Staff deeply care for each child and model kindness. Furthermore, this is extended to children developing a deep understanding of the needs of others. For instance, children regularly visit a community residential care home. They sing songs with the residents and do group activities with them. This means children without extended families can experience having older adults in their lives and learn how to interact with other generations.
• Staff have exceptional knowledge of child development, and the skills children need for future learning. They know their key children exceptionally well. Staff continuously assess what children know and can do, planning precisely for their next steps in learning.
• Staff support children to develop superb communication skills. They provide a language-rich environment where communication is paramount. For instance, while children draw self-portraits of themselves, they learn about their own features. Using photographs and mirrors, children explain the different parts of their bodies and use complex words like 'nostrils', 'scalp' and 'line of symmetry'. Staff ask children thought-provoking questions and encourage them to be inquisitive problem-solvers. Children develop superb resilience and strong thinking skills.
• Children's personal development is superbly promoted. For instance, they are encouraged to volunteer for special responsibilities and assigned roles for the day, such as monitor of the day and star of the week. Children understand and adopt a high level of care and consideration for the nursery, their friends, and the world around them.
• There is superb support for children's physical development. Children regularly access the outdoor garden. They run, build dens, jump in puddles and take part in physical education sessions run by visiting sports specialists. Children relish outdoor play. For instance, they sit and chat with friends on wooden logs, and role play around the campfire, savouring real marshmallows. Furthermore, staff support children to gain a deeper understanding of their bodies work. For example, children identify 'ribcage' and 'skull' as they name parts of the skeleton. They thrive and fully immerse themselves in their own learning.