Amigos Multicultural Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Staff value the diverse families and children that attend this unique and nurturing pre-school. The dedicated staff recognise the importance of getting to know children's individual personalities, cultures and family backgrounds. The manager, alongside her staff team and committee, has worked hard to make the necessary improvements since the last inspection.

Those with oversight of the pre-school have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities. In addition, they ensure that all members of the committee have relevant checks completed to assure themselves of their suitability. This helps to keep children safe.
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Children are warmly welcomed by staff as they arrive to start their day. Staff carefully plan a broad and well-balanced curriculum that is ambitious for all children. They thoughtfully provide a range of stimulating activities that support children's individual learning, incorporating their interests and curiosities.

As such, children are quick to delve into activities and sustain interest in their play. This supports children to make good progress in their learning.Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and, with the effective support they receive, children learn to behave well.

Staff support children to learn how to keep themselves safe. For instance, staff gently remind children to slow down and not run inside. They explain this is so they do not fall or hurt themselves.

Children attentively listen and respond well to staff's instructions and requests. Children are kind and respectful of the similarities and differences between themselves and their friends. Despite differences in spoken language, children play harmoniously together as they take turns and join in with each other's games and play.

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

Staff plan and provide meaningful, and appropriately challenging, learning experiences for all children. The broad curriculum on offer affords children opportunities to practise and develop their skills in all seven areas of learning. Staff know the children very well and precisely plan for children's individual next steps.

They know what skills children have already learned, and what they want to teach them next. This sets children up for future success.Activities on offer are based on children's interests and learning styles and offer appropriate levels of challenge.

Generally, children are motivated to learn, as they sustain interest and fully engage in their play and activities. However, at times, the organisation of some elements of the routine is not fully effective. For example, when children are waiting, they can sometimes become restless and disengaged.

Staff well-being and teamwork are extremely important at this pre-school. The manager has strengthened processes in place for regular staff supervision sessions. This supports staff's ongoing personal effectiveness in their roles.

Staff have regular access to a variety of training. This builds on their knowledge even further and positively impacts children's learning. For instance, staff access training to further support children's mathematical development.

Staff provide plentiful opportunities for children to learn early mathematics as they incorporate mathematical language and concepts into everyday practice and play.Communication and language are a high priority. All staff value diversity and proudly offer care and learning that is fully inclusive to all families.

A significant number of children speak English as an additional language (EAL). Staff excel at providing consistent, varied communication methods. They use Makaton, body language, facial expressions and attentively understand each child's cues to communicate their needs and wants.

Staff use clearly spoken, basic English words alongside Makaton for those who are beginning to learn English. For those already fluent in English, staff hold purposeful back-and-forth conversations and continually expose children to new words such as 'delicious' and 'disappeared'. All children are confident communicators.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Staff have good knowledge of local referral processes and ensure children get timely support when needed. They work closely with a range of external professionals, alongside parents, recognising the importance of partnership working.

As a result, children with SEND, as well as those with EAL, are supported to make good progress alongside their friends.The manager and staff team are dedicated to reaching families within the local community. They carefully consider how they can provide individual families with support and guidance, as well as fully including them in their child's pre-school journey.

Parents speak highly of the care and learning experiences their children receive. They describe the pre-school as inclusive and diverse, with staff creating an 'extended family feel'. Parents express that their children make good progress, particularly in their language development and social skills.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review and improve the organisation of some parts of the daily routine to reduce the time children have to wait between activities.