Stoke Damerel Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children have a wonderful time at this pre-school.

Staff enthusiastically plan fun, positive learning experiences that support children's interests and needs. Children thrive on the interesting and ambitious curriculum on offer. For example, children show high levels of concentration and determination as they cut and hammer pieces of wood together to make a Christmas tree.

Children learn how to correctly use real tools, confidently compare the lengths of branches and proudly write their name on the tree trunk. As a result, every child's learning and achievements are unique.Behaviour is exemplary.

Childr...en play happily together. They show high levels of respect to each other and are motivated to help their friends. Frequent acts of kindness are acknowledged and celebrated.

Children build strong, caring relationships with the kind and happy staff team. There is lots of laughter and positive chatter.Staff take great care to ensure all children feel safe and well looked after.

They support children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), exceptionally well to learn routines and settle in the pre-school. Leaders and staff have high expectations. All children make excellent progress.

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

Appropriate changes have been made and training completed to meet the actions raised at the previous inspection. All staff are overwhelmingly positive about the pre-school. They share their wealth of knowledge and are highly focused on continually improving outcomes for all children.

Emotional well-being of staff is highly valued. Staff retention is exceptional.There is a strong commitment to provide every child with new possibilities, opportunities and experiences.

For example, staff know some children have limited outdoor play facilities at home. Therefore, staff support children to develop self-confidence and physical skills to play and learn in the thoughtfully designed garden areas. Children learn how to dress themselves in waterproof clothing and boots.

They excitedly explore the mud, sand and water. Staff skilfully question children to deepen their understanding of their observations and to use their imagination a little more.There is a high focus to support children's communication and language.

Staff understand the importance to develop children's listening skills. For example, children thoroughly enjoy a game of pretending to be woken by a noise from a neighbour. Children know to wait their turn before sharing their suggestion of what they can hear.

Staff introduce new vocabulary and support children to use longer sentences when they excitedly talk about how the sound was made.Books are integral to pre-school life. Staff read to children many times a day; often in the outdoor areas.

Children keenly join in with the repeated phrases and listen intently to the animated story reading. Children love sharing their favourite books with their friends in the cosy seated area inside. Rhymes and songs are routinely used to build children's understanding of days of the week and counting.

Staff have expert knowledge and teaching skills. They regularly support children in small groups to provide targeted help. Staff take advantage of spontaneous opportunities to extend learning and interests further.

For example, children are keen to make bracelets and staff skilfully question them about how to measure, cut and decorate them. Children work out how best to achieve their chosen design with excellent results.Provision for children with SEND and English as an additional language is excellent.

Staff confidently use speech with gestures, symbols and images to encourage communication and understanding. Links with outside agencies are very strong and effective in supporting the staff in their superb practice.Staff teach children about healthy lifestyle choices.

They talk about which foods are good for them. After finishing their packed lunch, children cheerfully brush their teeth.The pre-school is a positive part of the community.

For example, there are strong links with other agencies to provide essential holiday care for school-aged children. Local businesses are keen to be part of this benevolent provision to meet the needs of local families.Families receive a warm welcome and are actively encouraged to help with their child's development.

Strong relationships and building trust underpin the nursery's clear approach to working in partnership with families. Feedback is excellent.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff know children and their families extremely well. They understand the types of risk that children may face. Leaders work effectively with external agencies to provide the help families need.

Staff carry out daily checks of the environment and equipment to ensure that everything inside and out are safe and suitable. Leaders make sure that staff receive regular training. Staff are clear about their recording and reporting responsibilities.

Rigorous and effective recruitment procedures are followed. Staff support children to begin to manage their own risks. For example, children know why they must wear safety goggles when using a hammer and nails.