Little Green Rascals Flaxton

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

The management and staff team have very high expectations for all children. Staff closely monitor children's progress and follow their emerging interests, including what they have been doing at home.

Staff use this information to deliver an exceptional curriculum and a learning environment in which children flourish. They plan for what each individual child needs to learn next and help them to make the best possible progress.Children's individuality is at the heart of the setting.

Staff respect each child and their views. As a result, children are confident and appreciate each other's diversity. Extremely effect...ive and individually tailored settling-in procedures help children to feel confident and make secure bonds with staff.

Staff consistently talk to children as they play alongside them and support their emotional well-being. They teach children about their expectations of positive behaviour from the outset. Children's behaviour is exemplary.

They quickly learn what staff expect of them. Children correctly use a wide range of vocabulary to demonstrate their feelings. Every aspect of the day is a learning opportunity.

Children have a can-do attitude and show high levels of perseverance. The environment provides a wealth of learning opportunities. For example, children draw on wood using natural resources and discuss how they can make the ice melt.

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

Managers set ambitious goals and staff demonstrate a drive and passion for their work. Leaders' self-evaluation is highly accurate and focuses sharply on continually improving outcomes for the children. Managers and staff make excellent use of additional funding to successfully support individual children's learning.

Gaps in children's attainment close rapidly, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, in readiness for school.The curriculum helps children to learn and remember more over time. Staff build on children's knowledge and skills to help them make links to previous learning.

Children learn about the season of autumn, including what some animals do during this time. For example, staff provide opportunities for children to develop the small-muscle movements in their hands when they manipulate natural materials to make homes for the wooden mice. Children learn new vocabulary, such as 'hibernation', and demonstrate their understanding of this concept as they cover the mice with leaves for the winter.

The inspirational manager meticulously reviews staff's teaching practice and provides them with first-class training opportunities. The team works exceptionally well together. Staff expertly employ their skills and knowledge to continuously extend children's learning.

The outside area is exceptional. It offers excellent learning in all areas and children particularly enjoy the mud kitchen and toasting bread on the fire. They choose from a wide range of superb resources for exploration and investigation.

For example, everyday objects are organised into metal, wood and tactile materials that help stimulate children's interest and ignite their curiosity.Managers actively seek and embrace the views of parents, staff and children to continually enhance the quality of provision. Staff provide expert support and guidance to parents, such as parenting advice and ideas about books, and promote home learning.

Staff focus strongly on building children's communication and language skills through effective questioning and meaningful discussions as they play. They use stories, rhymes, songs and activities to engage and inspire children. For example, staff play the guitar, and children thoroughly enjoy beating the drum and singing along to songs of their choice.

Healthy lifestyles are embedded in the curriculum. Staff offer children a rich set of experiences. For example, children make dens and use real woodworking tools to make hedgehogs, demonstrating high levels of skill and concentration.

They engage with nature and practise their physical skills, such as climbing and balancing. Children have practical and play opportunities to learn about healthy food. Natural and open-ended resources are in abundance as children play with real food in the home area.

Staff provide rich and diverse opportunities for children to learn about their community and the world around them. For example, children enjoy outings within the local community. Children experience an entirely seamless move to school.

Truly exceptional partnership working with the local schools creates a cohesive approach to supporting children in every element of their school readiness.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Safeguarding is given high priority and staff are highly vigilant in protecting children from possible harm.

They have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues, including county lines and child exploitation. There are highly robust procedures in place to manage concerns about a child's welfare and allegations against those working in or managing the setting. Staff complete thorough risk assessments of the premises to ensure that children are safe.

They teach children of all ages about personal safety. For example, staff involve them in checking for possible risks while using the fire pit. They inspire children to play sensibly and to be mindful of others.