Stepping Stones Pre School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are eager to enter the pre-school and separate from their parents easily. They are greeted by their friends and by friendly staff. Staff work well to meet the individual needs of children. Children feel safe here. They have strong relationships with staff and are quick to ask them for support. Children are developing their social skills. They learn how to be kind to their friends and are learning to share with each other.

Children enjoy learning, both indoors and outdoors. Staff have high expectations for children's learning. They plan a curriculum that considers children's interests and their learning needs. All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are learning to communicate well. Staff use planned and spontaneous activities to support children to extend their mathematical knowledge. For example, when children are at the 'creation station', they practise naming colours and shapes and count items on the shopping list they are creating. Staff find out what children are interested in and use this to encourage them to talk to others. For example, when children talk about their potions and magic symbols, staff encourage them to explain their game to other children.

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

• Staff use established pre-school routines to structure the session for children. Children follow the routine well, sometimes staff reinforce this with image cards. During group time, staff explain an activity to children using a sequence of three images. Staff help children to recognise the images for hello, singing and goodbye. Children know what is expected of them and their behaviour and understand when the activity has ended.
• Staff plan effectively for all children. Children are encouraged to be independent and, when they need support, staff are attentive to their individual needs. Staff know what children can do and encourage them to do more. Children are learning to use tools, they are cutting with scissors and using stampers. Staff sensitively intervene to demonstrate how to hold scissors, so children can cut confidently.
• Children settle quickly and are ready to learn. Staff support children to understand and manage their own behaviour. For instance, when children are riding bicycles and scooters outside, they are encouraged to share and take turns. Staff give children a five minute countdown, so that they can anticipate the end of their play or the start of their turn.
• Staff provide a well-considered curriculum. Indoors, children play with board games, explore books and learn about keeping their teeth clean. Outdoors, children enjoy using their imagination to tell stories about the symbols they have drawn. Children include staff in their play, encouraging them to join in and make magic too. Staff ably extend children's imaginative play, but when children are practising skills or asking questions, the learning opportunity is sometimes overlooked. For example, when a child is practising catching objects with a fishing net and becomes frustrated when they cannot scoop a specific item up, rather than encouraging their perseverance, staff try to distract them with a singing game.
• Staff take account of children's backgrounds and any feedback from parents. Parents speak very highly of the family feel of the pre-school and the care that their children receive. They know who their child's key person is and who to talk to if they need support or information. Parents access information about their children's development, using an online system and face-to-face discussion with staff during drop off and collection times. Staff understand the importance of having positive relationships with children and their families and have developed a 'Parents in Partnership' support group.
• The leadership team supports all staff to engage with training and feedback. Staff work very well together as a cohesive team, sharing ideas and information about children throughout the session. The leadership team implements a robust recruitment process and staff are supported to work across all areas of the pre-school. Staff comment that they feel highly valued and supported in their work with children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen further staff's teaching, so that they consistently challenge children to learn more, and continue to develop their practical skills.