Scorton Village Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this highly inclusive, nurturing and inspiring pre-school. From the moment children arrive, they are warmly welcomed by skilled and caring staff who know them exceptionally well. Strong and trusting relationships are at the heart of the pre-school. This helps children to feel safe, secure and eager to learn. The environment is thoughtfully designed to excite and engage children. Children are immersed in meaningful and well-planned experiences, indoors and outdoors, that spark their curiosity and wonder. For example, children take pride in growing herbs, excitedly exclaiming they are making 'potions'. They confidently share ideas during their play and show very high levels of independence. Children choose where to play, select their own resources and manage tasks, such as preparing snacks and washing their hands.

Staff seamlessly thread children's communication and language development through every aspect of practice and the curriculum. They model rich and varied vocabulary. Staff ask thought-provoking questions, giving children time to think and respond. For instance, children confidently discuss the benefits of milk for their teeth, using words such as 'calcium' and 'hydrated' in context. Children become articulate communicators who express their ideas clearly and use new language purposefully. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are kind, respectful and eager to help their friends. Staff provide highly personalised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language. This ensures that all children are fully included and make rapid progress.

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

• The curriculum is highly ambitious. Staff skilfully build on children's interests, while broadening their knowledge and skills. For example, when children create elephants during a craft activity, staff extend children's learning by using a non-fiction book to explore the differences between African and Indian elephants. This enriches children's learning with real facts and images and helps them to make excellent connections across all areas of learning.
• Staff promote children's physical development exceptionally. Children eagerly challenge themselves by designing complex obstacle courses. They use real tools thoughtfully, which helps to strengthen their small muscles and improve dexterity. Children develop excellent physical skills and resilience.
• Children demonstrate a remarkable awareness of how to keep themselves healthy and safe. For example, when they prepare snack, they confidently explain the importance of cutting food into smaller pieces to avoid choking. After active play, children carefully check their heart rates and take deep breaths to cool down. This helps children to make highly considered choices, showing a deep understanding of personal safety, well-being and healthy living.
• Staff skilfully provide experiences that build respect, cooperation and confidence. For example, children take part in group votes to decide on activities, such as whether to do a dance or workout during physical time. Staff explain what voting means and encourage children to listen to each other, accept the outcome and value everyone's opinion. This supports children to develop a strong sense of fairness, learn to respect others' choices and feel confident that their voice matters.
• Mathematics is skilfully embedded into daily routines. For example, during snack time, staff encourage children to work out how many chopping boards are needed. Children adjust their answers as they think about how many people are helping. They explore fractions and recall cutting fruit and sandwiches into 'halves' to share with their friends, using precise mathematical terms. This means children develop a secure understanding of number, problem-solving and early mathematical reasoning.
• Children's understanding of the world is broadened significantly through high-quality and real-life experiences. For example, staff support children to explore different countries through food, language and stories. They talk confidently about their 'local acts of kindness', such as delivering flowers to neighbours. Children develop a rich cultural awareness, respect for others and a strong sense of belonging.
• Partnerships with parents and carers are built on trust and mutual respect. Staff fully involve them in their children's learning through regular updates, stay-and-play sessions and meaningful two-way communication. Parents praise the pre-school for its tailored support, clear communication and seamless work with external professionals. This helps parents to feel included, and children benefit from consistent support between home and the setting.
• Leadership and management are inspirational. Leaders ensure that staff are highly reflective and committed to continuous improvement. They encourage staff to evaluate training, discuss how new knowledge will be applied in practice and explore this further during high-quality supervision sessions. This helps all staff to continually develop their skills and provide consistently high-quality teaching that benefits all children.