First Bridge Centre

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children who attend First Bridge Centre are inspirational.

They overcome many learning obstacles, despite all of them having special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children thrive because of the individualised support they receive from staff, who nurture their uniqueness exceptionally well. For example, children who were anxious before coming into the setting develop a sense of belonging and their personalities shine through.

Children who could not speak when they first started flourish and enjoy interacting with staff and their peers. They have learned to communicate their thoughts verbally with increas...ing confidence. Children who prefer to communicate in non-verbal ways do so clearly, such as by signing or pointing to pictures.

Children are very well behaved because they are extremely happy and feel safe in the setting. They access the outdoor facilities regularly, which contributes to the development of their physical growth. Children are taking risks and challenges, which are appropriate to their age and stage of development.

For instance, they persevere for long periods as they use the garden apparatus. Children's superb attitudes to learning are evident to see. From looking at books to singing and painting, they relish the wealth of highly stimulating and exciting activities on offer.

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

The managers have created an exceptional setting where children learn rapidly and have the best possible outcomes. They work collaboratively with their dedicated staff to deliver a broad, balanced and appropriately challenging curriculum. The way staff support children's learning is exemplary and is worthy of dissemination.

Among the setting's many strengths, the procedures for assessing and monitoring children's learning from the outset are outstanding. This enables staff to talk knowledgeably about each child and their next steps. They also make very good use of the information collected to identify and close any gaps in children's learning as quickly as possible.

Consequently, children of all ages and backgrounds make remarkable progress.Staff are highly skilled and sensitive in planning activities, such as circle time, to keep children very well motivated throughout. For example, they make superb use of questioning to ensure children can participate and practise saying new words.

In addition, staff are extremely adept at using sign language, visual and electronic aids to meet children's different communication needs.Staff use a wide range of strategies to manage children's behaviour exceptionally well. They set very high, yet reasonable expectations, taking into account children's additional learning needs.

Staff are also very good at organising transitions between activities and the daily routines. This enables children to spend their time in the setting as effectively as possible.Children have strong attachments with staff, who are extremely caring and attentive.

They receive meaningful praise and reassurance, which helps them to feel emotionally secure.Morale among staff is extremely high. Staff value the wide range of support and opportunities to develop their expertise.

For example, following training, they have enhanced their knowledge of how to use assessments even more effectively. This enables staff to embed children's learning, such as counting and recognising shapes, supporting their early mathematics very well.Staff work closely with other providers that children attend to secure a collaborative approach.

For instance, they share knowledge with early years practitioners to help children with their personal needs, including their toilet training.The self-evaluation process is accurate and robust. The managers express their strong commitment to working with the local authority to support other disadvantaged children in the community.

Parents and carers are unanimous in their praise of the exceptional levels of care and education their children receive. They describe how staff listen to them and work with them, to help their children to develop skills for their future education. Parents say their children enjoy coming into the setting, often for the first time, because they feel valued and understood.

This, according to parents, gives them a great sense of comfort and reassurance.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There are rigorous procedures to check staff's suitability to work with children.

Staff are well trained in safeguarding children's welfare. They are extremely confident in identifying and reporting any concerns to relevant agencies. This includes wider safeguarding issues, such as indicators of extremist views and behaviour.

Staff are also fully aware of other cultural practices to enable them to identify children who are at risk of neglect and/or abuse. Staff operate a very high adult-to-child ratio to help keep children safe. They provide sensitive supervision, while at the same time encouraging children to develop their growing independence skills.

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