Silsoe Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this friendly and stimulating pre-school. They move between rooms and the garden, exploring resources that interest and excite them.

Staff are ambitious in their planned activities, helping to introduce children to the awe and wonder of the world. For example, after children show an interest in planting seeds and flowers, staff inspire them to fill trays with natural materials, including plants, to use in their imaginative play. Children wait with anticipation to discover the resources that are contained in a case to help them during the activity.

Staff show illustrations in reference books to... help children understand what they are doing. They introduce words such as 'investigations' in their descriptions and conversations during the activity. This contributes to children's motivation to use exciting words in their own complex sentences.

By the time children leave for school, they are confident, articulate learners who are ready to embrace the next stage in their learning.Children behave exceptionally well. Staff are excellent role models.

They gently remind children of the simple and consistent 'golden rules' that are shared across the pre-school. Children are encouraged to recognise how they are feeling. Staff acknowledge children's emotions, while giving them ideas about what they can do when, for example, they feel anxious or cross.

This helps children find ways to help self-regulate their feelings, so they can continue their day in a positive way.

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

Leaders have very high expectations and a deep respect for staff, who are empowered to take ownership of different aspects of care and education in the pre-school. In turn, the whole team has high expectations of children and works tirelessly to ensure that a purposeful and well-organised curriculum supports children to make the best possible progress.

Staff create an exceptionally warm and welcoming environment for children and their parents and carers. Parents are regularly invited into the pre-school to find out about what and how their children learn, giving them ideas for activities and routines that they can use at home. Staff ensure that there are popular books for children to share with their parents while they wait to start their day.

In addition, parents are encouraged to use a well-stocked lending library containing books, games and other activities to share with children at home. This provides even more opportunities for parents and carers to share enjoyable times with their children.Children follow their interests.

They choose activities and resources that they enjoy, helping to trigger further exploration and learning. In addition, staff follow themes that are based on popular books and stories that capture children's imagination. Using regular assessments and observations, staff identify what each child needs to know and understand next in their learning.

Staff skilfully incorporate these next steps into the activities and experiences they provide. This helps to ensure that staff add suitable and targeted challenge in their interactions with children.Leaders ensure that the pre-school is at the heart of the community.

Relationships with the host school, local church and retirement home are strong and well maintained. Children go on walks within the village and contribute to national and local charity initiatives. For example, staff explain to children why they help to collect food for a local food bank.

Staff ensure that children benefit from a variety of experiences, helping to strengthen the curriculum. For example, children join in regular yoga sessions and focused sports sessions that are taught by suitably qualified coaches and teachers. This contributes to children's physical development and personal well-being.

Children's identities are celebrated. Staff find out about children's home lives and about the people and traditions that are important to them. With the help of their families, children create boxes that are filled with photos and objects from home.

They tell their friends and staff about their treasured items that are contained in the boxes, helping to build self-confidence and a sense of belonging.Leaders work very closely with other professionals and agencies to help ensure that the excellent teaching and support strategies in place remain at the highest level. Professionals regularly visit the pre-school and work with staff to identify, implement and continually review and improve how they confidently ensure that all groups of children make optimum progress.

Staff embrace training and mentoring sessions to expand their already deep understanding of their impact on children's development and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture towards safeguarding that puts children's interests first.