Lane Pre-School Playgroup

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Managers and staff provide a pre-school that is valued within the local community.

They ensure that children learn about the community and take part in a wide range of community events. For example, they encourage children and families to take part in the elf trail around the local town. Staff also involve children and parents in activities organised by the library and the local book shop.

They help parents to understand the importance of reading and singing with their children. Staff provide a warm welcome to children and their families. Children are happy and eager to attend the pre-school.

They enthusiastic...ally take part in activities and concentrate for long periods of time during their play. Staff are very caring towards children and nurture them well. Children settle quickly at the pre-school and develop trusting relationships with their individual key person.

Staff are good role models. They have the highest expectations of children's behaviour. Children hold hands with each other as they walk along the path to the local woodland.

Older children show kindness towards younger children and display empathy. Staff skilfully help children to identify the feelings that characters experience in the stories they read. Children feel safe and are confident at the pre-school.

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

Managers are dedicated to providing a high-quality experience for children. They have fully addressed the action and recommendations raised at the previous inspection. Managers accurately identify what they do well in the pre-school and recognise areas for further development to support ongoing improvement.

Children enjoy plenty of time outdoors. They develop good physical strength and control of their bodies. Children enthusiastically jump and splash in puddles and show absolute delight.

They display their excellent knowledge as they identify that they can see their reflection in the puddles.Staff help children to develop their understanding of the different ways they can keep themselves safe. Children listen carefully to instructions during outings.

Staff encourage children to use technology to make a fire evacuation game and plan what to do in the event of an emergency. Children are very independent. They confidently put on their own hat, coat and boots.

Staff plan a range of activities to help children to develop useful skills. For example, they teach children how to hold and use scissors correctly. Children concentrate extremely well as they cut card to make cone shaped trees.

However, at times, staff overly direct children's artwork and reduce opportunities for them to fully develop their own creative ideas.Children who have additional needs are supported extremely well. Staff provide children with individually tailored support.

They develop excellent partnerships with a range of other professionals to help provide a shared approach to their learning. Managers and staff provide an inclusive environment. They help children to value and respect their individual uniqueness.

Staff promote children's language skills well. They use effective approaches to encourage younger children to be confident when speaking in groups. All children say 'hello' and introduce themselves by name as they hold the 'talking stick'.

Staff value children's contributions and help them to develop a strong sense of belonging.Managers support staff effectively to develop their knowledge and skills. Staff use innovative ideas, such as spooky party invitations, spooky hotel booking forms and spooky diaries to successfully inspire children to write for a purpose.

Staff also provide a range of resources and opportunities for children to develop their hand control and finger strength to further support their writing skills.Parents speak highly of the pre-school and describe it as being 'incredibly welcoming, loving, caring and nurturing'. Staff keep parents very well informed about their children's development and share ideas to help them to support their children's learning at home.

Staff develop excellent partnerships with the headteacher and teachers in the local school. They make effective use of the school's forest area to support children's understanding of nature. Older children show their good understanding and confidently identify what happens during the different seasons of the year.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Managers are trained as designated persons for safeguarding. They display a secure understanding of their responsibility with regard to safeguarding children.

Staff are knowledgeable about the possible signs that might indicate that a child is at risk of harm. They access training to update their safeguarding knowledge. The manager implements robust procedures to check the suitability of people who wish to join the management committee.

She ensures that their suitability has been checked by Ofsted before they are allowed to make decisions that affect children. Staff are vigilant about children's safety in the pre-school and during outings.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: provide greater opportunities for children to consistently develop their own creative ideas during craft activities.

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