Sandfield Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children who speak English as an additional language are supported by staff with their language development. For example, staff talk to children in English and their home language. This also helps children who speak English to understand that there are other languages spoken around the world. This contributes to their knowledge of similarities and differences. Children are encouraged to develop a love of books. Staff read stories to children and ask them questions about the pictures they see on the pages. Children join in with familiar phrases in the stories, such as, 'You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man.' Parents value the information they receive from staff about their children's development.

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

• The manager works alongside her staff. She supports their practice, offering less-experienced staff ideas and suggestions about how they can further support children's learning. For example, when children move confidently across stepping stones and tyres, the manager suggests that staff give children a beanbag to balance on their head when they are stepping across. This helps to challenge children's balance and coordination.
• Staff attend relevant training courses and in-house training to extend their knowledge of childcare. This helps them to support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff encourage children to understand the words they use, for example, by using sign language.
• Staff encourage children to develop an understanding of how plants grow, such as sweet peas. When children take a keen interest in looking at the plants, staff provide them with a tape measure. Children are encouraged to develop their knowledge of numbers and measurement when they see how tall the plant is.
• The manager reflects on what she offers children and families in the pre-school. She is aware that some children have fewer opportunities for physical exercise and fresh air. Because of this, recent changes have been made to the garden, to include a shelter. This enables children to play outside and to be physically active in all weather.
• Staff support children emotionally when they face changes in their lives. For example, before children move on to school, staff take children to see the school environment and their teacher. They support them to experience a lunchtime at the school. This helps children to become familiar with the school, the daily routines and the teacher who will look after them.
• The manager and staff find out about children's achievements when they first start. They use this information to help plan for children's good progress. The manager and staff place a strong focus on supporting children's communication and language skills. For example, they sing plenty of songs and rhymes with children. They offer small group activities to encourage children's attention skills. This helps them to develop skills for their move on to school.
• Overall, staff promote children's positive behaviour well. When children join group times, staff discuss rules and boundaries. These include for children to look and to take turns. However, during these times, staff occasionally do not fully support children to listen to the views of others, to encourage them to take turns in conversations.
• Mealtimes are social occasions, where staff sit with the children and talk to them about the healthy foods they eat. They help children understand the benefits of eating healthily. However, during some mealtimes, staff do not challenge older children to extend their self-help skills. For example, they do not offer or show them how to use cutlery that is appropriate for their age.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff's planning of group times, to encourage children to take turns in conversations and to listen to the views of others
• support staff to build on opportunities for older children to be challenged with their self-help skills.