The Castle Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

All children are confident and very happy during their time in the friendly and welcoming pre-school. Children enjoy the company of staff.

For example, they seek them out for reassurance and praise. All staff have a good understanding of the curriculum that they successfully implement. Staff build on children's interests well, and children enjoy challenging activities.

For example, when they have an interest in building, they use sand and water to make 'cement' for building large structures. Children measure each other, and staff teach them about the concept of measurements as they compare heights.Staff are positive ro...le models.

All children behave well and are polite. Staff teach children about the different ways they can move as they develop good physical skills. For example, children safely climb and balance and participate in activities, such as modern dance and football.

Children gain good communication skills. They are confident to communicate their thoughts and ideas, and they answer thought provoking-questions with confidence. Staff teach children about the importance of caring for the environment and the world around them.

For instance, children go on regular beach trips to carry out litter-picking activities. Children learn about the tide and how to stay safe around water.

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

All staff establish secure and trusting relationships with children.

They know their needs and abilities well and plan accordingly. This helps them to engage children in activities that they know will motivate them to learn.The managers and staff have a good understanding of their broad curriculum and children's next steps in their learning.

All children have a positive attitude towards their learning and make good progress. This includes those who speak English as an additional language.Staff ensure that their practice is diverse and inclusive.

All children learn about other people's communities, backgrounds and traditions from around the world. For example, children learn key words, such as 'toilet' in Italian. They learn about the traditional dishes from other countries.

This is demonstrated when children bake Italian pizzas.Staff are dedicated to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work closely alongside other agencies, such as Portage.

They share and implement useful strategies. For example, staff have successfully introduced a dark den to encourage children to use it when they feel overwhelmed.Overall, all children are engaged in their learning experiences.

However, at times, staff are not quick to identify children who would benefit from adult interaction. Children are generally very happy and confident. However, staff are not always aware when it would be appropriate to step in to support a child to choose or join in an activity.

All staff have a secure knowledge of all areas of learning. They use some good ways to support children to develop skills to support their future learning. This includes encouraging children to use and understand mathematical language as they play.

However, children are not consistently encouraged to problem solve and complete the task that they are capable of. For example, staff open children's lunch boxes and pour their drinks. Therefore, children do not consistently have opportunities to build on their skills to support their future learning with more independence.

The managers and staff establish positive relationships with parents, who speak very highly of them. They comment that the staff are special, magical ladies who provide a wonderful environment. Staff keep parents well informed about their children's day and their next steps in learning.

Staff share helpful ideas with parents, such as healthy eating ideas.The managers closely monitor the quality of care and teaching that staff provide. Staff evaluate together as a team.

They reflect regularly about what has worked and what has the potential to be better. The managers are mindful of the staff's well-being and ensure that their workload is manageable. All staff feel valued and supported.

Staff carry out regular training, reading and research, and they implement their findings. Staff have recently learned about how to engage boys in play. As a result, all boys are engaged and make good progress.

Safeguarding

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

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 be more vigilant of children that would benefit from adult interaction to further encourage their enjoyment in learning nenhance the support for children to complete tasks they are capable of with more independence.