The Castle Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is good • Staff provide children with a stimulating environment which is constantly evolving, to help ensure they have a wide selection of activities to choose from and to extend their learning.

For instance, children investigate how water changes as they add different resources, such as teabags, to it. • Children are excited to explore the wide variety of experiences, to play outside and to practise their physical skills. For example, they climb on large play equipment and balance on beams to help develop their coordination and muscle strength.

• Partnerships with parents and carers are effective. Parents share information about their children with staff,... and staff regularly inform them about their children's daily routines and activities, to help support home learning. • Children are cared for by a well established and dedicated team of staff.

The staff follow secure settling-in procedures which help to support children's emotional wellbeing and meet their individual care needs. • Staff do not consistently support younger children's mathematical understanding and language, such as the relationship between numbers and quantity. • At times, staff miss opportunities to challenge and extend children's learning to the highest levels and build on their thinking skills.