Therfield Village Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children enjoy a broad selection of learning experiences that reflect their individual interests. They have a positive attitude to their learning and busy themselves in their self-chosen activities.

Children like to look at books and enjoy listening to staff skilfully reading stories, bringing the characters to life. Older children demonstrate a confident understanding of numbers as, for example, they count how many of their friends are at pre-school. Children use their imaginations as they create Christmas decorations from card, collage materials, glitter and glue.

They show physical dexterity as they cut out their cr...eations with scissors and confidently attempt to write their names on the finished product. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the nurturing care of staff. They have fun together and enjoy one another's company.

Children care for each other and manage their own feelings and behaviour well. They share, take turns and work together. Children develop practical skills that support their eventual entry into school.

For example, they learn to put on their own coats and wellington boots for outdoor play. Children proudly accept their 'helper of the day' badge and undertake small responsible tasks, such as helping younger children with their activities. This helps to promote their self-esteem and confidence.

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

Staff have a good focus on developing children's communication and language. They successfully engage children in conversations and encourage them to express their thoughts and ideas. Older children learn to link letters with the sounds they make during enjoyable activities, such as 'sound lotto'.

Staff work hard to establish trusting relationships with parents. They get to know families well and communicate with them effectively. Parents say staff are approachable, supportive and friendly.

They comment that they have frequent opportunities to meet with staff and discuss their children's development. Staff offer parents suggestions for activities to share with children at home to complement their learning in pre-school. For example, children take home their favourite books.

Staff help children to develop their independence. They encourage children to blow their own noses and wash their hands at the portable wash stations. Staff talk to children about healthy lifestyles and provide daily opportunities for children to be physically active indoors and outside.

This established and experienced staff team work together well. Each staff member has strong support from managers. They enjoy their work and say their well-being is given a high priority.

Staff benefit from frequent training that helps to enhance their teaching skills, such as learning sign language to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).Children develop their experience of the wider world. They talk to visitors about their home lives, languages and cultures.

They help each other to celebrate special events from their different faiths. Staff encourage parents to send postcards from their holidays to help children to recall and share their own experiences with others.The quality of teaching is good.

Staff check what children know and assess their progress regularly. Their interactions with children are warm and positive. Staff carefully plan the curriculum around children's immediate interests.

For example, they incorporate dinosaurs, cars and superheroes into activities. Children respond with delight as they find their favourite toys concealed in water and sand. Staff hide coloured shapes around the garden to encourage children to treasure hunt for 'pirate gold'.

Group activities do not take full account of children's differing attention spans. Sometimes, these are too long and children lose interest and their attention wanders. Furthermore, particularly during activities led by adults, staff do not always effectively challenge children in order to help them make even more progress in their learning.

Children with SEND receive strong support. Skilled staff swiftly identify where children might need extra help. They have a good partnership with other agencies, such as speech and language professionals, to provide additional support for children and parents.

Managers effectively monitor progress to make sure all children, including those receiving extra funding, make expected progress.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Managers and staff demonstrate a secure understanding of the signs of child abuse.

They know the procedures to follow if they believe a child to be at risk of harm. The manager implements appropriate procedures for employing new staff. A member of the management committee has oversight of the safeguarding procedures and monitors practice.

Staff give parents guidance on the wider aspects of safeguarding. For example, they advise on the safe use of mobile phones and the internet.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review the planning and delivery of group activities to better support children's individual learning needs make more of all opportunities to challenge children and deepen their learning still further.