Puffins at Beer Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children arrive very happily to be greeted by warm and welcoming staff.

They come into the pre-school independently and take care of their possessions, hanging their coats on designated pegs and putting other items in their own trays. Children show a strong sense of belonging and positively thrive in this exceptional pre-school.The pre-school manager and her staff team have very clear intentions for children's learning.

They skilfully plan enticing activities that children are highly motivated to take part in. Staff expertly play alongside children in activities of their choice, using very effective teaching str...ategies, to extend children's learning. For example, children use their imagination to hunt for treasure while staff encourage them to make maps and follow directions to find the treasure.

Staff routinely encourage children to count and use mathematical language as they play. Children show a secure understanding of number. They are learning to identify the properties of shapes, which they correctly name.

They learn about money as they role play in the post office, suggesting that a parcel will cost 'five pounds' to send in the post.Children demonstrate extremely high levels of self-control as they share toys and take turns using a sand timer. Staff are wonderful role models for the children, who are learning vital social skills that many of them missed opportunities for during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff identify children who need additional support and tailor effective learning experiences for them. All children make excellent progress and are very well prepared for school and future learning.

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

The pre-school manager has identified how singing supports children's speech and language skills and ensures that the daily routine includes song time.

All children eagerly join together to sing familiar songs. They sing along with sheer delight and perform the actions to the songs enthusiastically. They are praised for their lovely voices and how well they remember the words and actions.

Children show great pride in their performance and look forward to sharing the songs with their families at the Christmas Nativity in the local church.Children learn to lead healthy and active lifestyles. They have ample opportunities to develop their physical strength.

They manoeuvre heavy tyres to climb in the forest school and walk the nearby steep hill on regular trips out to explore the local area, for instance.Children eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables at snack time and parents diligently follow the healthy eating guidelines when providing packed lunches. Mealtimes in the setting are a wonderfully social gathering.

Children and staff all enjoy eating together at the table, chatting about their families and friends.Children display excellent table manners.Staff read books in an engaging way to the children, who listen intently.

Children keenly talk about what they can see in the pictures and what they think will happen next. This supports children to develop a life-long love of reading and provides them with early literacy skills.The pre-school has established excellent partnerships with parents and the local community, including the school and the church.

The pre-school staff regularly take part in local events, which children and parents enjoy attending. Parents speak highly of the dedicated, nurturing staff and describe how happy their children are to attend the pre-school. They feel very well informed about their children's progress and value the advice they are given to consistently support their children's learning at home.

The pre-school and office managers are highly ambitious about providing inclusive, high-quality education and they offer a very flexible service to support the needs of the families. The staff team are extremely well supported by the inspiring pre-school manager and they are provided with regular training to continually build on the high standard of teaching.Staff support children very well in their personal development.

They learn about other faiths and cultures in age-appropriate ways. They learn to treat each other kindly and with respect. Staff are extremely caring and children form very strong bonds with them.

This supports all children to develop secure self-esteem and confidence.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff place the utmost importance on children's safety and well-being.

The manager and the staff team have completed a wide range of child protection training to ensure they are all confident in recognising the signs and symptoms that a child may be at risk. They understand how to report any safeguarding concerns they may have and the importance of doing so in a timely manner. Children learn to keep themselves safe, for instance they learn about fire safety during forest school sessions.

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