Ladybirds Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Staff organise the environment very well to ensure that it is calm and welcoming. Children feel content and secure at this pre-school.

They form strong relationships with their key person and other staff who are excellent role models and work well together. Staff are exceptionally well deployed. They are highly responsive to children's individual needs and know when to involve themselves in children's play and when to step back.

The manager and her small team of staff demonstrate an exceptional drive to provide superb provision for every child. They regularly reflect on all aspects of the pre-school to ensure th...at children have the very best experiences. Staff implement ideas from training to make effective changes to the environment, such as reducing the quantity of plastic toys.

They comment on how children's imaginations have developed considerably as a result of the changes made.Children flourish and thrive in the inspiring and enabling environment. They are highly motivated to investigate and learn through play.

Children experiment with a range of objects to solve problems. For instance, they recognise that conkers can fit through tubes when designing a 'marble run'. Children explore real vegetables in the role-play kitchen.

They understand that onions make their eyes water when they peel off a layer of skin.

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

Staff give children's well-being the highest priority. They establish exceptionally friendly and trusting relationships with parents and carers.

Staff have an excellent knowledge of children's backgrounds and very quickly become perceptive of their needs. They know how to support each child's learning.Staff keep parents fully informed about their children's day.

Parents and carers comment on their child's progress and how happy they are to attend. They express their willingness to travel from a distance so that their children can attend this pre-school.Children develop their independence from a young age.

They fully understand what is expected of them and are keen to do things for themselves. Children are extremely confident to select the tools and resources needed for their chosen activity. For instance, they squeeze water into containers before using rollers on a board outside, and after painting, wash their paint brush and pallet in the sink.

Children concentrate and persevere to achieve their goals. Staff sensitively monitor what children are doing and offer support where needed.Staff regularly discuss their workload with the manager and say that they feel well supported and valued.

They highlight specific training to meet children's needs and readily share learning across the staff team to continually develop their knowledge and skills.Children enjoy being active. They happily join in with actions to popular songs.

Outdoors, children climb on equipment and carefully manoeuvre around objects as they use ride-on toys. Staff are vigilant and ensure children remain safe at all times. They are close by as children take age-appropriate risks.

Staff provide a friendly and caring environment. Children behave well and play extremely cooperatively together. Staff give children important messages that reinforce and encourage positive behaviour.

They continually provide children with meaningful praise. This helps to raise children's confidence superbly.Children develop their skills in speaking and listening and become effective communicators.

They talk about their home lives and ideas for play with staff. Children learn to foster a love of reading and enjoy sharing books. Staff support children to understand that books have a front and back and a title.

Children are very eager to join in with words and phrases in familiar stories.Staff give children clear and consistent messages. For instance, they encourage children to make healthy food choices.

Children select the fruit they would like from the bowl for snack and eat their packed lunch in a relaxed and social atmosphere. Staff limit the amount of screen time children access while in the pre-school. Children are extremely aware of the timers used and willingly hand back the digital technology when their time is up.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have an excellent understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe and protect them from harm. They are fully alert to the possible signs of abuse and neglect and understand the wider issues surrounding child protection.

Staff understand their responsibility to keep robust records and report any concerns about children to the appropriate professionals. The management committee follow robust recruitment procedures and complete rigorous checks to ensure that only those suitable to work with children do so. They have effective procedures in place to ensure that all new committee members have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

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