Treetops Pre-school

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive at this welcoming and inclusive nursery. Leaders ensure that the support for emotional well-being is paramount. They make an extra effort to nurture the children and families in their care. For example, staff find out about children's interests and curiosities and use this to plan engaging activities that appeal to all learners. There is a carefully considered curriculum that enables children to make progress according to their own journey of development. Staff also consider all children's backgrounds and differing needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They provide tailored support to ensure the best possible outcomes for all children.

Children show a positive attitude towards their learning and behaviour. They are familiar with the routines of the day and enjoy the playful interactions with staff. Children settle quickly to activities and become curious learners. They explore and play with high levels of concentration and independence. Staff praise children's achievements, building their confidence and providing a positive experience for children to follow their own interests. Children are excited to share their knowledge and creativity with other children and staff.

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

• The support for children with SEND is exemplary. The knowledgeable staff team ensures that swift referrals are made, and support plans are of a high quality. Staff work relentlessly to ensure that each child gets the right help to ensure a smooth transition in their learning journey. Staff work closely with a wide range of external professionals to seek the support and guidance necessary to help all children achieve and make good progress.
• Staff encourage children to talk and think about their behavioural choices and the possible impact it may have on others. For example, they must consider others who are waiting for a turn and are shown how to give comfort to others who are sad. At times, however, staff are not always consistent in their messages about the rules and boundaries that are in place. This means that children do not always understand what is expected of them.
• Teaching throughout the nursery is strong. Staff have an in-depth knowledge of each individual child and use reflective questions to encourage children to think and recall. Staff use books to immerse children in both imaginary and real-life experiences. For example, children enjoy the story of 'The Shark in the Park' and follow up the story by visiting the local park. These valuable encounters ensure that children experience awe and wonder within their everyday lives.
• Overall, staff support children to be healthy. For instance, staff provide opportunities for children to have daily exercise at the local parks and in the large outdoor area. Children also enjoy planned events, such as learning skills in football and other sports. However, the guidance for children for making healthy choices about what they eat and drink is not yet fully embedded.
• Staff spend time with parents, getting to know children's care needs and their stage of development before they attend. For example, staff complete home visits and settling-in sessions in partnership with families. They also liaise with any receiving primary schools. This helps to ease the transition from setting to setting. There is a regular, two-way flow of communication. Parents receive daily feedback and newsletters that contain an abundance of helpful information.
• Leaders have a dedicated focus on enabling staff to receive good-quality training. Staff value the guidance and coaching given by knowledgeable and experienced professionals, such as speech and language therapists. Staff have undertaken training on how to develop children's communication and language development. For instance, they have implemented activities for children that encourage the daily exposure to new vocabulary. This targeted intervention promotes the continuous development of the setting and helps to significantly improve outcomes for all children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to give consistently clear messages so that children know and understand the expectations for their behaviour
• strengthen strategies to support children to make healthy choices in relation to food and drinks.