Young Friends Kindergarten

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff implement the highly ambitious curriculum with creativity and passion. They provide a calm environment in which all children flourish both academically and emotionally. Children are extremely capable and motivated to learn through a range of exciting and engaging experiences. Staff ensure that all children feel welcomed by promoting a strong sense of belonging in the home-from-home environment. Babies are cuddled and soothed by the highly skilled staff who understand everything about them. Staff respond to babies' every need and communicate to them through sign and simple language. They support babies to develop strong independence skills by encouraging them to keep trying. This is demonstrated as the babies beam with pride as they attempt to dress and feed themselves.

Staff have a thorough understanding of children's starting points. They expertly plan learning experiences based upon children's existing knowledge and interests. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make excellent progress in their learning. Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff model respectful language and actions. They teach children how to care for each other and the environment. Staff have developed an effective programme to support children to recognise and manage their emotions. As a result, children have rapidly learned how to recognise their feelings and regulate them in a remarkably mature manner.

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

• A key strength of the kindergarten is the passion in the way both the ethos and curriculum are delivered. Staff teach children how to care for the local environment and the world around them. Children have an impressive understanding of why food and water should not be wasted. They compost vegetable peelings and grow their own food in their kitchen garden. Staff encourage children to recycle and repair items rather than discarding them. Children describe the fun ways in which they do this, explaining that they use real tools and make their own dinner every day.
• The owner and managers provide excellent support for staff. They strive to create a positive working environment where staff feel valued and listened to. Staff comment that the kindergarten is an incredible place to work and that their well-being is very well supported. Parents mention that the strong values that their children experience have a positive impact on their home life. They say that their children are gaining valuable skills that will be used for their whole lives. Parents comment that they feel reassured that their children are in a safe environment and that the staff provide 'an education and love'.
• Children respond very well to interesting ways of teaching. For example, staff use puppets to discuss a trip to the dentist and how that makes them feel.
• Children enthusiastically talk about their own experiences of going to the dentist. They are keen to show the inspector how they brush their teeth. Children say, 'You have to do the ones at the back and don't leave the tap running.' Children demonstrate their understanding of how they can keep their teeth healthy.
• Children have daily opportunities for outside experiences that help them to learn about life beyond the kindergarten. For example, they forage for wild garlic to add to the dinner they will be making. Children take a trip on a bus to go to the library and staff walk them down to the nearby beach to do a 'litter pick'. Children play outside in the delightful garden. They feed the rabbits and fill up feeders for the birds.
• Staff have a thorough understanding of how to keep children safe. They are confident that they know what they should do if they have concerns about the welfare of a child or the behaviour of a colleague. Leaders ensure that staff safeguarding knowledge is continuously updated in line with local procedures. The kindergarten is secure, and any potential hazards are removed to help minimise the risk of accidents.
• The staff team expertly nourishes children's love of books and stories, and children develop excellent communication skills and understanding. This has a positive impact on how they engage with each other and their future learning. Children develop their mathematical skills as they count out seedlings in the garden. They measure out volumes of water and cut and share out equal parts of clay. They show a sense of achievement when they say, 'I have counted out seven which are all the same size.'