Shipdham Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and settled at the pre-school. They develop good relationships with all staff and look to them for support and reassurance. Children are confident to ask questions and ask for help when needed.

Children behave well. They share with each other and wait patiently for their turn. For example, when washing their hands for snack, children line up and wait patiently for a space at the sink. They take turns in the mud kitchen. They independently pour the water and move to allow the next child to have their turn. Children demonstrate respect for each other by joining the line and waiting. Older children support younger peers to use the water bowl effectively.

Children are encouraged to be independent throughout the day. They pour their own drinks, find their own belongings and put on their own coats and wellington boots. Children demonstrate that they have learned these skills and practise them regularly. They are helpful and follow simple instructions from staff. For example, when children are asked if they can clear away the plates after snack, they happily help the adult and show how proud they are of themselves. This promotes children's self-confidence and independence.

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

• Leaders have designed a curriculum based around the needs of the children who attend the setting. There is a strong emphasis on communication and language skills, as well as independence and preparation for school. Staff ensure that routines and regular activities at the setting support the curriculum. Children take part in daily singing and rhymes. They listen to stories and develop a love of books. Children are encouraged to be independent throughout the day and older children are confident to meet their own personal needs. This includes, for example, toileting, eating and getting themselves dressed.
• There is an effective key-person system in place. Children demonstrate strong attachments to staff and look to them for support and reassurance. Staff know the children well and they observe and plan effective next steps in learning for their key children. This means that children continue to develop and extend their current knowledge, making good progress in all areas of learning. All parents receive regular communication and feedback regarding their children's learning and development at the setting. However, home learning is not consistently supported.
• Staff provide children with a language-rich environment. When children talk about driving too fast, staff reply and introduce the word 'extremely'. They encourage children to talk and introduce new vocabulary through conversations. This gives children the knowledge to extend their communication skills further.
• Outdoors, children explore the large garden area and use the climbing equipment to develop their large-muscle skills. They balance along beams and experiment by walking backwards, supported by an adult. Children learn to take appropriate risks and develop an understanding of staying safe.
• Staff quickly recognise children's needs and can identify children who may need additional support. They work closely with parents to support children, gather evidence and make appropriate referrals when needed. Therefore, children receive appropriate support to help them achieve and develop to their full potential.
• Staff encourage children's communication and language skills and understand the importance of early literacy. They provide children with regular singing and rhyme sessions during group times. Staff encourage children to join in with stories. They engage children by talking about the pictures and asking questions such as, 'What do you think will happen next?' Children respond with ideas and develop an understanding and love of books.
• Leaders are passionate about the setting and the care they provide for children. They carry out regular supervision meetings with staff to reflect on their practice. Staff are given time to discuss any concerns they have. Managers focus on enhancing the setting. For example, staff are currently attending forest school training to make better use of the outdoor area. However, leaders do not consistently identify areas of weakness. This means that staff do not always attend specific training to further develop their knowledge.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• further develop home learning opportunities to enable parents to fully support their children's learning at home
• strengthen supervision to identify areas of weakness and tailor training to raise the quality of teaching to a higher level.