Portreath Pre School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Portreath Pre-School offers children an outstanding start to their educational journey, where they flourish as enthusiastic, curious learners in a warm, safe and nurturing environment. The setting actively fundraises to maintain enhanced staff- to-child ratios, ensuring that children receive personalised attention and benefit from meaningful interactions and community-based outings.

At the heart of the setting's curriculum is the Portreath community. Children have many opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge through engaging experiences, such as visits to the beach, local care homes and the Penlee Family Project. These outings not only allow children to connect with others but also encourage them to take part in purposeful activities. Through initiatives like litter picking, they learn about environmental responsibility and the importance of 'being kind to Portreath'.

Staff take the time to build strong relationships with both the children and their families and are deeply committed to supporting every child's success. The learning environment is inclusive and tailored to meet each child's unique needs. Staff thoughtfully consider each child's interests and developmental next steps, using their expertise to ensure that all children are supported in reaching their full potential.

Children demonstrate excellent behaviour, largely influenced by the positive role models set by staff, who consistently model kindness and care. This encourages a spirit of cooperation among the children, as seen when, during a running race, some children returned to support their friends all the way to the finish line.

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

• The setting consistently emphasises children's communication and language. Staff engage children in meaningful interactions that stimulate thinking and encourage problem-solving. They use visual aids and sign language to ensure inclusive communication. As a result, children are confident in their speech and capable of discussing complex topics. For instance, they are able to explain where the water flowing from the outlet pipe in the harbour comes from.
• Staff encourage children's love of reading and books. Children enjoy listening to, and participating in, stories and rhymes, with the opportunity to choose which story they would like to hear. Throughout the curriculum planning, children can effectively expand their vocabulary, as staff ensure they are exposed to and use relevant words.
• Children take great pleasure in expressing their creativity through junk modelling and using loose parts. They independently explore and manipulate a variety of materials, such as cardboard and yoghurt pots, to construct and design their own ideas. This hands-on approach allows them to experiment, solve problems and think imaginatively, fostering their creativity and fine motor skills.
• Mathematics is firmly embedded in practice, with staff incorporating mathematical language into all activities. For example, while playing with play dough, staff use terms like 'short', 'long', 'less' and 'more'. Children also enjoy identifying shapes in their environment, proudly calling themselves 'shape detectives'.
• Children learn how to stay safe during outings, including staying close to the staff and practising road safety. They also discuss the importance of not touching unfamiliar dogs, as 'not all dogs are friendly'. These experiences help children develop essential life skills.
• Children enjoy staying active, with plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. They talk about their hearts beating faster during exercise and understand how their hearts pump blood through their bodies. The setting promotes healthy eating by offering nutritious snacks and providing parents with guidance on healthy lunch box choices. This helps children establish a healthy foundation for their lives.
• Parents consistently express high praise for the education their children receive. They feel well informed about their child's progress and learning journey, with regular updates and clear communication. Staff provide resources and ideas for extending learning at home, ensuring that parents can actively support their child's development and reinforce key concepts in a meaningful way. This partnership between home and the setting helps to create a consistent and supportive learning experience for each child.
• Staff get to know the individual children and families extremely well, which helps them to identify what support children need quickly and effectively. They collaborate with external agencies and continuously expand their knowledge through professional development to ensure that every child makes significant developmental progress from their starting points.
• Staff are highly passionate about their roles and work closely together, consistently reviewing their practice and striving for improvement. They feel they have a good work-life balance, creating a positive and happy atmosphere in the setting.
• Staff support children transitioning to the local school effectively. They maintain good communication with the school, working together to discuss the cohorts of children and explore ways to support the next group of children as they move up.