First Steps Pre-school

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is good • The manager and her staff provide a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment. Children are happy, confident and settle quickly. • The enthusiastic and well-qualified staff provide excellent support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Strong partnerships between parents and external agencies support children with SEND to make good progress from their individual starting points. • Children form close relationships with their key persons. Key persons know children extremely well and use what they know to plan effectively for children's next steps in learning.

They accurately assess children's progress to ensure t...hat any gaps in learning close swiftly. • Parents are very complimentary about the quality of the pre-school. For example, one parent comments: 'I would highly recommend the pre-school to others.

Staff are so warm and go above and beyond to support my child's individual needs.' • Staff promote equality and diversity well. They embrace opportunities to develop children's awareness of the wider world and other cultures.

For example, parents and volunteers are invited into the pre-school to read stories in their home languages. • Children who speak English as an additional language are supported extremely well. They quickly develop the confidence to interact effectively with staff and their peers.

This helps them to attain a good level of English for when they start school. • At times, staff do not use opportunities that arise to provide children with more challenge to extend their good progress even further. • On occasions, staff are not deployed effectively enough to support older and more-able children to make the highest possible progress.