Rainbow Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and show they feel safe as they enter the pre-school confidently. They clearly have good relationships with the staff and receive a welcoming greeting from them. Children show a positive sense of belonging as they settle and play with the toys and resources on offer. Children make their own choices in what they want to do, with effective support from staff. For example, staff use a self-choosing board to help children to know what resources are on offer. Children enjoy group activities and demonstrate great excitement as they dance, sing and participate in 'disco dough' time. All children behave well together.

Children are engaged and busy throughout the day. Many are seen to have fun playing games with their friends. For instance, children enjoy working together to create a farm from construction materials, while others are engrossed in imaginative play as they pretend to be 'elves' helping in 'Santa's workshop'. Children are captivated in their play and chatter to their friends and staff throughout. Staff promote communication and language well overall by offering a narrative to children's play.

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

• Staff know the children well, especially their key children. They understand what children need to learn next and adapt activities to include this. Staff know how to embed the curriculum, and promote this well to support children's learning and development.
• Children enjoy a welcoming environment where they have fun both inside and outside. They have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children explore a variety of equipment that helps to support their moving and handling skills. For instance, children develop their muscles and coordination as they climb on climbing frames and ride on bicycles.
• Children have many opportunities to learn about the world around them. They enjoy outings in the local community and adventures in the woodlands. Staff create exciting learning opportunities for children as they explore the woodlands adjacent to the pre-school. For example, children were recently enthralled when the 'Gruffalo' paid a surprise visit to read to them. This helps to develop children's literacy skills and their love of books.
• Staff communicate well overall to the children. They support children's speaking and listening skills. However, at times, staff do not give children sufficient time to think or respond to questions they have asked them, before giving children the answer. This somewhat limits children's thinking skills as they do not have time to gather their thoughts and express their own ideas.
• Children have developed some lovely friendships, and together they all behave well. Staff help children to share and take turns. For instance, they use sand timers with the children to help them understand when it is their turn with a toy that their friends have. Staff are good role models to children, and they encourage them to say 'please' and 'thank you' as required.
• Overall, staff promote children's health and well-being suitably. For instance, staff support children in maintaining good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands. Children's independence skills are effectively promoted. For example, children learn to wipe their own noses and cut their own snacks. Staff teach children about the importance of eating their carbohydrates before the rest of their lunch box well. However, staff do not consistently help children fully understand how the food they are eating affects their bodies.
• Parents comment very positively about the staff and the activities that they offer their children at the pre-school. Comments include that the staff are wonderful, their children love to attend and they have made great progress since attending.
• Management and staff work well together as a team. They show a commitment to make further improvements to the pre-school, and regularly reflect together on their practice and plans. The manager provides staff with good opportunities for professional development and encourages regular training. This helps staff to enhance their knowledge and skills. Staff comment that they feel well supported and that they have regular supervisions.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop teaching strategies to give children the time they need to think about and answer questions
• extend ways to help children understand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.