Stonecroft

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are extremely happy and thrive in this superbly resourced centre. Children separate easily from their parents as they have exceptionally secure relationships with the caring staff. Children feel secure and loved. They are highly motivated and confident to initiate activities and test their skills. For example, they become experts at using cameras to capture their surroundings. They learn how to position the camera to film themselves at play. Additionally, children's excellent creative skills and high levels of concentration are further enhanced as they learn to edit their films with support from a highly skilled professional.

Leaders have expertly developed their exceptionally ambitious curriculum for all children. They have achieved this through using information from their precise monitoring of children's interests and their deep understanding of what children need to learn and do next. Children are extremely eager to engage in activities that promote their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. For example, children learn to make ravioli. They practise their excellent language skills as they precisely follow instructions read by staff. They quickly recognise numbers of quantities in the recipe and learn simple science, as they mix ingredients and add water when needed. Additionally, children work on the cookbook, which will be shared with parents. This helps to further extend the already excellent curriculum home links.

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

• Leaders have an extensive understanding of what they intend children to know and achieve. Staff have excellent opportunities to extend their professional development continuously through highly effective training. This ensures that they maintain high-quality teaching, which helps all children to make rapid progress in their learning in relation to their starting points. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Children behave exceptionally well, and staff are expert role models. Children are polite and say 'please' and 'thank you' without prompting. They take turns and negotiate space successfully. For example, children build a huge construction with ladders and wooden marble runs and then support each other by holding the ladder when someone climbs on it. This shows a very clear understanding of the rules of safe play as well as children's caring attitudes towards each other.
• There is a superb focus on communication and language development. Staff extend children's vocabulary and are expert in modelling language. Children who start with limited vocabulary make rapid progress and promptly put words together. All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, become proficient in English.
• The teaching of literacy skills is extremely effective. For example, children make a story map of 'Three Billy Goat Gruff' book and talk about the range of emotions the troll may be feeling. Children draw on their extensive vocabulary and literacy skills to consider an alternative ending. This shows their outstanding language abilities, in particular their superb command of language of feelings.
• Staff have a deep understanding of the importance of helping children to develop strong core muscles. For example, children use a wide range of pulleys and ropes to transport heavy objects. These types of activities, together with ample opportunities for children to practise their small-muscle skills and mark making, prepare them exceedingly well for the next stage in learning.
• Staff provide excellent ways to promote children's knowledge of mathematics and technology. For example, children are highly competent learners capable of using projectors, interactive boards and computers.
• Children learn to manage their self-care needs independently. For instance, they put their coats on for outdoor play without prompting. Children help with small tasks, such as tidying up after activities. This helps them gain a sense of responsibility and further develops their independence in readiness for school.
• Staff provide extensive experiences that notably broaden children's understanding of the world. For example, staff take children to visit older people in a nearby care home. Children gain exceptional knowledge of their community and people living in the area. Staff place strong importance on encouraging children to share their own customs with their friends. This helps children to learn to respect and value others.
• Relationships with parents are excellent. Parents feel supported and praise the centre's work, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They highly appreciate the workshops that the centre provides for them.