West Hoathly Community Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thoroughly enjoy their time in this well-organised, friendly pre-school. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are well supported by the kind and caring staff. Children quickly make friends and become part of the small pre-school 'family' that is a valued part of the village community. Children play well together, helping each other, sharing and taking turns when needed. They follow the familiar routines of the day and picture timetables that help them feel safe and secure.

Children benefit greatly from the clear focus on developing their language and literacy skills. For example, they learn to recognise their name as they find their card to self-register. Children take home books to help develop a love of reading and strengthen partnership working with parents. In the pre-school, they are completely engaged and motivated by the well-thought-out activities, carefully planned to encourage conversation and listening. Children have fun as they learn new skills and knowledge. For example, children learn how to record their voices and laugh with excitement as they hear them played back. They call to their friends to come to the 'café' and happily include staff in their imaginative role play.

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

• Staff use a range of positive strategies to help children understand and regulate their behaviour. They are skilful at supporting children when they occasionally struggle in their interactions with others. Staff recognise and anticipate the times some children find difficult, such as sitting together for group activities. They consistently use picture clues or distraction with comforting toys and equipment to help children manage these times well. Children understand the clear expectations and learn to behave very well.
• Children show high levels of concentration. For example, they spend some time moving coloured water to and from different sized containers. Children discover new colours and strengthen their fingers as they use spoons and squeeze pipettes to pick up the water and mix it. However, at times during child-led play sessions, staff do not act on opportunities to extend children's learning further, particularly for the most-able children.
• The well-qualified manager has very good knowledge and understanding of what children need to learn and achieve. Staff observe children and know the children's individual interests and learning needs very well. They help children to link learning and build on previous knowledge and skills. For example, following an outdoor adventure in the woodland, children choose to revisit the story 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. Staff add inviting sensory props, such as water sprays, to engage all children. They listen carefully and learn new vocabulary and how stories work.
• Generally, children's self-help skills develop well. They wash their hands, serve their own snack and pour their own drinks. They are beginning to put on their own outdoor clothes before going in the garden. However, there are times when staff do things for children that they are able to do themselves. For instance, children do not pick up aprons dropped on the floor or collect water they need in the garden. Children are not consistently encouraged to be independent.
• The inspirational manager and dedicated staff work together as a strong team. The manager has a very clear plan for ongoing improvements to benefit the children. For example, she helps staff feel confident to use signing to support all children's speech and understanding of language. The manager actively promotes staff well-being and they report they are happy in their work. Staff take advantage of a good range of training to update knowledge, skills and qualifications further.
• The manager and staff form strong partnerships with parents. They consistently give parents advice and ideas when needed. For example, parents are supported to understand the damage dummies can do to children's teeth and speech. Parents are invited into the pre-school for special events and to share their own skills with children and staff. Parents praise the good online communication and the additional activities available for the children, such as weekly football coaching.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff teaching skills to help them consistently support and extend children's learning when they are exploring their own play ideas
• provide consistent opportunities for children to fully develop their self-help skills.