Stepping Stones Pre-School Group at Knowle Parish Church

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy, secure and incredibly enthusiastic to attend the pre-school. They have secure friendships with staff, which helps them to grow in confidence. Staff create an awe-inspiring and highly stimulating environment. Children have high levels of respect for one another. They treat each other with kindness, learning to share and take turns. They begin to make friendships.

Children make remarkable progress in their communication and language. They sing songs when having group time and follow the actions to 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes'. They follow instruction exceptionally well. Children access books independently. They sit together and pretend to read the books and role play the story with teddies. Children discuss their trip to the animal farm. They role play with animals in an array of textured materials, such as various types of cereal and chocolate 'mud'.

Staff provide a wealth of opportunities for children to develop physical skills. Children create obstacle courses and balance along the balance beams. They learn about their own safety. Children use stilts, hula hoops and basketball hoops with their friends. They fill up their own watering cans to water their flowers, fruit and vegetables. Children use water and paintbrushes to paint dinosaurs outside.

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

• Leaders ensure staff are consistently communicating to reflect and improve their practice. The manager supports staff in their training. She knows how to deploy her staff effectively to work to their strengths. Their key-person system is exceptional. Children get incredible one-to-one support. Staff have an abundance of knowledge about their child. This ensures children make vast progress in their care.
• Staff create a highly stimulating and motivational environment. Their curriculum is ambitious and challenging. Staff ensure what children learn is fully embedded and secure. Children are deeply engaged in their activities and have excellent concentration.
• Staff use clear language and children follow instruction exceptionally well. Staff introduce new vocabulary at every opportunity. Children become fluent speakers and individual progression is outstanding. They frequently sing songs and discuss a variety of topics. Children discuss their trip to the farm. They tell each other about the animals they held, such as tarantulas, leaf bugs, giant cockroaches, millipedes and anaconda skin.
• Staff have an awe-inspiring passion for nature. Children learn about becoming environmentally friendly and caring for their planet. They learn about recycling, reusing rainwater to water their plants and using old yoghurt pots and coat hangers to make weighing scales. They watch apples grow on their apple tree and plant their own herbs, fruit and vegetables. Staff immerse children in nature, exploring minibeasts, different plants and textures.
• Children get visits from their local firefighters, paramedics, lollipop people, nurses and doctors. This helps children to learn about their community and develop a sense of self. Children learn they are unique. Staff support inclusion and equality for all. Staff encourage children to practise so they learn to face difficulties independently.
• Parents say their children's progression is exceptional. Their children are sociable, kind and have made close friends. They state their children are more than ready for the next stage of their lives. Parents talk about how the staff's communication is of high quality. Staff ensure they build strong relationships with the parents. This aids support for the children and parents at home, not just in the setting. Parents really enjoy being part of their child's pre-school experience. They enjoy community days, school trips and sit-in mornings at the setting. This helps them to understand what their children are learning about.