Duchy Preschool And Playgroup

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy and enjoy their time at this welcoming and nurturing pre-school. They build warm and positive relationships with staff and each other. Children are keen to take part in a range of interesting and challenging activities which are carefully planned to meet their individual learning needs.

Staff are well qualified and experienced. They closely observe children and monitor their progress effectively. Since the last inspection, new managers have been employed and support for staff's professional development has increased.

As a result, improvements have been made to the curriculum and to the teaching pract...ice. Many parents report that the pre-school is much better. Staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Staff provide excellent support for children to help them manage their own feelings and behaviour. Children show that they understand why they should be kind to others and how to play safely together. Managers and staff work very well together.

They have daily meetings to share ideas and discuss what has been successful and where changes can be made. The experienced and highly skilled trustees are committed and passionate to build upon the quality of service the pre-school offers. They work closely with the staff team to provide a clear vision for the pre-school's continued development.

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

Staff recognise the importance for children to hear more words to improve their language and communication skills. Staff read books with great expression. Children enthusiastically join in with repeated rhyming phrases.

They confidently answer questions about the story to show that they understand what happened and why.Staff know children very well. They consider what children can do and what they should learn next.

Staff think about the best ways to set out the resources and activities to promote children's interest and engagement. For example, children show fascination as they touch and smell leaves, acorns and chestnuts in the play trays. They explore to see what happens when they push them into the play dough.

Children like to sit down with their friends to sing songs. However, sometimes staff do not make best use of group times to ensure children are fully engaged and learning new skills. Some children become distracted and lose interest.

Children enjoy playing outside and developing their physical skills. For example, they enthusiastically brush the glitter-infused sand across the ground, recognising the different shapes made by the dry mixture on the wet ground.However, there are fewer opportunities for them to develop a wide range of skills.

Staff have identified the need to develop the curriculum to support children who prefer to learn outdoors.There are very good links with other professionals who regularly visit to provide specialist support. For example, staff keenly use the additional resources provided by speech and language therapists.

As a result, children with SEND have many opportunities to develop their communication skills.Staff have attended specialised training and demonstrate excellent practice to promote children's emotional well-being and to develop resilience.Children who speak English as an additional language receive excellent support to settle in.

They respond happily to staff's smiles and show that they feel confident to try out new experiences. Staff seek the help of a translator to share information with parents, when required.Trustees and staff are committed to build more links with the local community.

There is a shared focus to raise the profile of the pre-school within the town and local towns. They are proud of their successful fundraising events and partnerships with the mayor and local council.Staff warmly welcome older children before and after their school day.

Staff find out what they would like to do and provide a very good range of activities. Children are involved in the decisions about what food to have. For example, they enjoy choosing from the different fillings for their tortilla wraps.

There is laughter as children tell staff about what they did at school.There are very effective partnerships with parents. Parents feel welcomed and involved in their child's learning.

They speak highly about the kind and supportive staff team.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.All staff attend safeguarding training.

They have a clear understanding of how to identify children who may be vulnerable to abuse or neglect. Staff understand how to report any concerns about a child's welfare. Experienced trustees provide extra professional guidance and discuss practice, when required.

Robust recruitment procedures help to ensure that staff are suitable. Staff complete regular risk assessments to identify and quickly act on any potential hazards or risks.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review the planning and teaching for group times to ensure all children are fully engaged and learning new skills continue to develop the outside areas to provide a wider range of activities to meet learning needs of all children, particularly those who prefer to be outdoors.