Rainbow Kabin Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children cannot wait to get inside the pre-school when they arrive. They settle quickly and are keen to engage with the positive staff. Children beam with pride as hear their name in the 'hello' song. Staff know their key children well and interact positively with them. As children become interested in their shadows, staff join in and make large hand movements to show children their moving shadows. Children are happy and feel safe.

Children engage positively and concentrate for long periods of time as they play in the well-planned indoor and outdoor areas. They enthusiastically say 'the flowers are so beautiful' as they explore the wide range of exciting resources on offer. Children develop their problem-solving skills and resilience as they find different ways of removing the toy animals that are trapped in ice. Children make connections in their learning. For example, as children look at books, they run to find the toy animals that match the animals in the pictures. All children are developing positive attitudes to learning and making good progress.

Children behave well. They show that they understand the routines and expectations. Children show care and consideration for the resources they use and for each other. They say, 'oh dear!' as they spot some sand that has spilled and help staff to clear it up. Children play happily alongside each other. Occasionally, children need additional support to manage their emotions, particularly at transition times or when sharing toys. Staff respond positively and calmly provide children with help and reassurance. Children are beginning to understand the impact of their behaviour on others.

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

• Children benefit from spending a lot of time in the fresh air and engaging in daily physical exercise. Staff plan exciting activities that develop children's physical skills. Children roll balls to each other and practise hopping and jumping. Children confidently throw balls high in the air to reach the basketball net. Children are being supported to lead healthy and active lifestyles.
• Staff promote the importance of good oral health. They ensure that every child has a toothbrush and toothpaste to take home. Children have regular visits from dental professionals. They talk to children about how to look after their teeth through daily brushing and a healthy diet. Children are developing a positive attitude towards caring for their teeth.
• The manager and staff have designed a broad and well-sequenced curriculum. They use their knowledge of children's skills and interests to plan engaging and purposeful activities that promote children's development. However, as staff interact with children, they are not always confident to respond in their teaching to what children say and do. This does not ensure that children receive consistently high quality teaching that promotes the highest levels of progress.
• The manager strives to expand children's vocabulary and to promote a love of reading. She ensures that children have access to books in all areas of the pre-school. She carefully chooses books that link to the children's interests and shares links to these stories for parents to access at home. Staff enthusiastically read aloud to children and encourage them to join in with the repeated words. Children listen intently to stories as they are read and choose their own books to explore. Children's literacy skills are developing well.
• Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well. Staff are proactive in learning key words in children's home languages. They explicitly use these words when teaching children. Staff model a range of new vocabulary to children and use visual aids and actions to support their understanding. This helps children to make good progress in learning the English language while continuing to use their home language.
• Staff value working in partnership with parents. They understand the positive impact that this can have on the continuity of children's care and education. Staff provide a range of opportunities for parents to find out about their children's learning. Parents say that they receive a lot of advice and support from the staff about how to help their children at home. Parents state that their children are making good progress and that they are eager to attend. Parent partnership is a strength of this pre-school.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff's understanding of how to adapt their practice in the moment, to help children make the highest levels of progress.