Little Bears Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive with enthusiasm and are eager to participate in activities, which are based on their interests.

For example, they confidently choose resources and have access to a good range of craft materials. Children paint and confidently use scissors. This helps them to develop their imagination and creative skills and supports their small physical skills.

Staff provide children with many opportunities to extend their literacy skills. For example, they encourage children to write their names, when they are developmentally ready, and engage children in regular story sessions. Children enthusiastically join in with f...amiliar stories and phrases.

They use their imagination as they make up lyrics to songs.Children demonstrate confidence when practising their physical skills. For example, they take part in yoga classes and play hide and seek games in the outdoor play area.

Children confidently extend their physical skills as they use a knife to cut fruit during snack time. Children develop their imaginations as they participate in make-believe play using a range of role-play resources. For example, they dress up as superheroes.

Children are free to play and explore independently. They are highly imaginative, curious and enthusiastic learners. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school.

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

Staff are fully aware of the intent for the curriculum, and this is well implemented. For instance, they are consistent in building on and extending children's language skills. Staff use clear, simple words when speaking to children and give them the time they need to respond to the range of good questions they ask them.

Management monitor and track the progress of all children. They have a clear overview and understanding of all children's progress and use this information to make sure children receive additional support when necessary.Staff gather good information about children and their family lives, so that they can understand the experiences they have before they come to the pre-school.

However, at times, their relationships with parents focus mostly on meeting children's care needs, rather than supporting parents to extend their children's learning at home. Nonetheless, parents speak highly of the helpful and kind staff.Management has high expectations for all children.

They use additional funding successfully to meet individual children's developmental needs. Staff ensure that children from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities have access to the curriculum and make good progress from their starting points in learning.Children demonstrate their understanding of the pre-school's rules.

Staff role model expected behaviour and show respect to children. They regularly use praise and offer gentle reminders. Children behave well and use good manners.

Staff teach children to do things for themselves whenever possible to help promote their independence. For example, children wash their hands, put on their own boots and coats for outdoor play.Staff develop good partnerships with local schools that children move on to and work well with other professionals.

For example, speech and language therapists. However, they are not as successful in developing working partnership with other settings that children attend. This means that children who attend other settings lack consistency in their learning.

Children explore a range of environments in the local area. For instance, they go to see llamas and sheep in the nearby fields. This helps to promote their understanding of the world around them.

Older children increase their mathematical knowledge. For example, they count pieces of fruit at snack time and talk about the different sizes of their cups. Children focus for long periods of time on activities, such as completing jigsaws.

Staff challenge children's thinking, which supports them to problem solve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and where to report any concerns they may have regarding children's welfare or safety.

They update their knowledge about all safeguarding concerns, such as the 'Prevent' duty to help them protect children. Staff knows the procedure to report to appropriate agencies if an allegation is made. Risk assessments are effective in minimising potential hazards.

The management team follows robust procedures for safe recruitment, induction and supervision to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. They monitor children's attendance consistently well.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: continue to improve the existing good systems for communication with parents to further enhance effective information sharing with them nestablish partnerships and exchange important information with other providers who share the care of the children.