Little Aston Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are eager to join in and play as soon as they arrive at this small and friendly pre-school. Gradual settling-in sessions before children join help them to feel emotionally secure.

Staff greet children warmly and support any children who feel a little unsettled to find the toys they like. Children can choose from a variety of activities available to them. As a result, children are soon busily engaged in play and learning.

Children are excited to explore activities. For example, they eagerly make potato prints with paint and join in with singing and action songs. Staff are good role models and build warm relatio...nships with children.

They provide plenty of praise and encouragement to build on children's self-esteem. Children are confident and growing in independence. For example, they help to tidy toys away and hang their coats up when they come inside.

Children's behaviour is good and they listen to instructions well. Staff explain to children the potential consequences their actions could have on others. For example, as children are listening to a story, staff remind them to sit down so they can all see the book.

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

The leaders are committed to continual improvement of the pre-school provision. They encourage staff to regularly reflect on what they do and how they teach. However, although staff receive support to enhance the overall quality of their practice, current arrangements for professional development are not strong enough to raise staff's knowledge and skills to a consistently high level.

Staff carefully monitor children's progress to ensure all children, including those who are in receipt of early education funding, make good progress from their starting points. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their education.Parents are highly valued as partners and speak very positively about staff and the provision.

They comment about how much progress their children make and how much their children enjoy attending. Parents appreciate the wealth of information staff provide about their child's learning and achievements.Staff are committed and enthusiastic.

They engage well with children, using their interests to plan and adapt activities to suit their individual abilities. For example, when children show an interest in recent building work, staff set up a construction area inside. Children enjoy getting together for group-time.

However, some of these activities are not always planned and organised effectively enough to sustain children's attention.Staff ask some meaningful questions to test children's knowledge. They provide new words to build on their current vocabulary and extend their understanding.

For example, as children play with pretend food, staff ask what food it is and model the correct answers if children are unsure.Children develop the skills that will help them learn to read and write. They use a variety of mark-making materials, encouraging their finer movements and control.

For example, they make marks with pens and paint. They see adults writing and some children try to copy and write their names. Children listen to stories and look at books independently.

They repeat familiar phrases and talk about what will happen next.Staff introduce children to mathematics as they play. For example, they help them to count.

At other times, staff help children to think about shape and size as they fix train tracks together or build with construction pieces.Children are learning how to develop healthy lifestyles, such as the importance of eating healthy food. Staff encourage children to develop an understanding of where food comes from and how it grows.

For example, children are encouraged to bring in fruit and vegetables from home. They enjoy tasting different types of food and comment that nutritious food will help them to, 'Grow big and strong'. Children follow good hygiene practices to promote their good health.

They know that they should wash their hands before eating.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager ensures all staff undertake relevant training that helps to extend their knowledge of how to protect children's welfare.

Staff know about the signs that could indicate a child may be at risk of harm and how to report a concern. The manager keeps updated with local safeguarding procedures. Staff know the action they must take if they have concerns about a child.

Staff risk assess thoroughly to ensure potential risks are managed effectively. They supervise children closely and ensure the required adult-to-child ratio is maintained at all times.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: support staff to raise the quality of their teaching to a consistently higher level review and organise focused group activities more effectively to further maintain children's attention and engagement.