Portland Bill Pre-School Regina Road Community Centre

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

This setting makes a difference to children. It is extremely warm, welcoming, and inclusive. All children are happy and feel secure. Children are confident to explore the activities that have been set out with care by attentive staff. Children benefit from a calm and nurturing environment, and all children are valued and loved by the devoted team. Parents feel supported and have good relationships with the staff and manager.

Staff create activities to reflect the needs and interests of the children. Children enjoy accessing attractive and enticing activities designed for all abilities, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children are given autonomy and choice. For example, children can access a snack at any point. They know to wash their hands and help themselves.

Children carefully select magnetic shapes to make a tower. Staff support them by using language for thinking, encouraging the children to consider where to put the shapes. Children work through the problem collaboratively to achieve their goal. The children are not disheartened when the structure falls; they try again, and staff praise their efforts.

Children enjoy selecting books and being read to by enthusiastic staff. Staff involve children by highlighting new words, asking questions, and encouraging the children to think about what is happening in the story. Children consider their answers and respond playfully. Children benefit from borrowing books, and parents are encouraged to read with their children. Staff share tips about communication and language development. Most interactions with staff and children are meaningful. As a result, speech and language development has improved.

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

• Children respond well to a calm and well-ordered environment. Routines are embedded, and the day flows seamlessly. Staff are deployed effectively, and clear designated roles ensure that children are supervised well and are given attention. Children regularly check in with staff for reassurance, and staff are responsive and affectionate. Children gain in confidence and are motivated to try.
• Well-crafted activities encourage children to stay focused. Children concentrate and remain engaged. Often, questions posed to children are open ended, but this is not consistent throughout staff's practice. Staff allow children to explore and follow their interests. They offer support when and if needed. Staff value each child as unique and understand that they all develop at different rates. Staff are respectful of the children and make them feel important. They know the children very well, and bonds between staff and children are strong.
• The pre-school includes all children and families. This message is consistently delivered through attitude, practice, and resources. Children have a sense of belonging, and photographs of them and their friends are seen frequently in the environment. For example, children delight in showing the inspector laminated placemats with photos of them and the people around them. Children feel exceptionally comfortable in their environment and are settled.
• Parents report a sense of community. All families are welcomed and greeted with warmth and with consideration. They feel very supported and know their children are safe and content. Parents are kept well informed and enjoy positive relationships with staff. Families are invited to celebrate and share their cultures and interests with the children at pre-school. Opportunities for parents to share their skills, such as running yoga sessions, enrich the curriculum. Children and families enjoy pre-school events and resources, such as the petting zoo.
• The manager is extremely passionate about early years, and this feeling is shared with her dedicated staff. The pre-school has a clear ethos of giving each child the best start in life and working with parents as partners to achieve positive outcomes for children. The manager shows clear leadership and treats all with honesty and openness, as well as love and respect. This is felt in the environment and makes the pre-school feel safe. Staff enjoy opportunities for training and feel supported. Staff communicate well and work together as a team.
• Children benefit greatly from attending this pre-school. The manager and her team work hard to give all children equality of opportunity. Each child is considered, and practice is adapted for every individual. Staff tune into children and make every effort to understand their specific needs. Progress is tracked, and staff work hard to close gaps to ensure that no child gets left behind. Staff show care and empathy and, because of this, behaviour is good and children learn to be aware of each other.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to consistently use high quality, open-ended questioning to maximise learning opportunities.