Widecombe Pre-school

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are safe and secure in this well run pre-school, which is at the heart of the local rural community. They benefit a great deal from the many visits and experiences people from the local area provide.

Children enjoy yoga and music sessions and visits from local farmers. This helps them to gain a good understanding of the world in which they live. Children develop a strong sense of belonging and form firm friendships with staff and each other.

The kind and caring staff are good role models and skilfully support children to share and take turns during play. Children cooperate happily together and older children s...how consideration to the younger ones.Staff engage all children in interesting activities and children join in with great enthusiasm.

They regularly share familiar books and promote children's speaking and listening skills effectively. Staff expertly bring the stories to life, using different voices and expressions. Children 'read along', excitedly making sounds and using actions, gaining good early reading skills.

Children have a positive attitude to learning and enjoy exploring. They are excited to find snails and insects and listen with interest as adults talk about their characteristics. Staff provide a wealth of opportunities for outdoor learning and children develop good physical skills in a supportive atmosphere.

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

The manager and staff know children well and plan experiences that build successfully on what children know and can do. Staff check children's progress regularly and accurately to help them to move forward in their learning. However, occasionally, staff do not extend activities for older children to provide even more interest and challenge.

The experienced staff team supports children to explore and experiment, for example as they enjoy splashing in a stream. Children are excited to watch toy ducks float down the stream and enjoy using fishing nets to catch them, developing their understanding of the world. However, there are times when staff miss opportunities to introduce mathematical vocabulary, such as 'full' and 'empty', as children experiment with pouring water into a variety of containers.

Children settle quickly and become secure in their daily routines. They develop the independence and confidence to enjoy exploring and learning. The strong partnerships staff form with the local school help children to maintain this confidence as they move on in their education.

Children regularly visit the school to enjoy stories and to get to know the teachers.Staff are quick to notice and support children when they need extra help. They gain the support of other professionals to ensure all children make good progress from their starting points.

Staff value the contribution parents make to the pre-school and work closely with them to help children to feel happy and secure. For example, they talk to parents about what children have been enjoying at home so they can develop their interests at pre-school.The committee and manager recruit and monitor staff effectively.

The staff are well-qualified and develop their skills further according to the needs of the children. For example, they have recently attended training to help them to support the needs of the younger children now attending the pre-school.The committee, manager and staff are ambitious for the future, regularly review their practice and ask parents for their views.

Staff now provide parents with more information about snack times, so they know about the healthy food children have been enjoying.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff carry out checks to ensure children are safe while they are in the pre-school and on outings.

They teach children how to manage risks while playing and how to cross roads safely when they are on walks. Staff attend child protection training and know the correct procedure to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: provide more encouragement to children to use mathematical vocabulary as they play and explore nextend some activities for older children to provide more challenge to help them to make the best possible progress in their learning.

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