Station Road Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy, safe and secure.

Staff work closely with parents and carers and get to know the children in their care well. Staff establish strong relationships with the children and support their emotional well-being effectively.Staff maintain high expectations of children's behaviour.

They use effective strategies to teach children to understand their emotions and work closely with parents to support children's behaviour at home. Children demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning. For example, while making play dough cakes, they excitedly exclaim 'let's do this!'.

Children remain engaged in activ...ities for a good length of time.Staff recognise the importance of outdoor play. Children benefit from regular outdoor learning opportunities and experiences.

They confidently ask staff for support when they encounter challenges in the garden. For instance, children request that adults help them to move logs while looking underneath for worms. Staff teach children about similarities and differences, for example that people speak differently.

When talking to children about accents, staff promote inclusion and equality and develop children's knowledge and understanding of the world.

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

Children's interests are well represented in their activities and play. For example, staff provide more kitchen-based tools and resources for children who are interested in cooking.

Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff communicate regularly with parents and listen to their ideas and views to enhance their children's learning. Parents make positive comments such as 'my child is made to feel special every day'.

Staff have a good understanding of the curriculum and know what children need to learn. They keep their knowledge up to date, for example by completing regular training courses. Staff use these courses well to maintain good standards of teaching and develop children's learning.

For example, staff use a picture card system to extend children's communication development.The garden is well resourced to enhance children's learning. Staff encourage them to challenge themselves and take risks.

However, staff could support younger children further by teaching them how to use equipment safely when taking risks in their play.Partnerships with outside agencies are effective. Staff build strong links with other professionals so they can work together to meet children's needs.

Self-evaluation is effective. The manager uses the views of children, parents and staff to make improvements to the setting. For example, the manager has reviewed the routine and now provides an earlier breakfast, to allow children more time throughout the morning to play without interruption.

Staff communicate well with the children. They use effective techniques, such as visual aids, and make eye contact with children when speaking to them. All children make good progress with their speech and language.

Children demonstrate good confidence to communicate with adults and peers. They apply their knowledge and understanding to conversations about topics that interest them. For example, while using a typewriter to write a letter, children talk about letters they have received.

Children listen well and join in enthusiastically with songs and rhymes. They enjoy singing and using instruments they have made. The older children request their favourite songs and the youngest children use visual aids to express their ideas.

Staff support children to develop their confidence to be independent. They learn new skills and manage their own personal care needs. For example, at snack times, staff encourage children to spread butter on their toast and pour their own drinks.

Children dress themselves before outdoor play.Staff provide some opportunities for children to explore mathematical concepts, such as counting, shapes and sizes, through songs and rhymes. However, staff miss some opportunities to extend children's mathematics skills as well as possible.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities to protect children from harm. They recognise the potential signs of abuse, including those relating to wider safeguarding matters, and know what to do if they have a concern about a child's welfare.

The manager risk assesses the premises thoroughly to provide safe and secure play areas for children. She carefully plans staff ratios and deploys staff effectively around the setting, to enable them to supervise children well throughout the day.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: teach children to think about how to use equipment safely when engaging in risky play, particularly the youngest children provide children with even more opportunities to develop their mathematical skills during their play.