A YATE preschool’s caring staff and “confident, independent and curious learners” have been praised by an inspector.
Ofsted visited Ridgewood Preschool, in Station Road, in May.
Inspector Holly Smith said the preschool was ‘good’ in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.
She said: “Children arrive at the pre-school happy, eager to play and ready to learn.
“They form secure relationships with caring staff, which helps them feel safe and settled.
“Staff deliver a broad curriculum that encourages children to become confident, independent and curious learners.
“They plan enjoyable and challenging activities in line with children’s interests and stages of development.”
‘Meaningful learning experinces’
Staff gather information about children’s routines, interests and development to plan “meaningful learning experiences”, finding out about children who speak other languages at home and working closely with parents to help them settle.
The inspector said the 47 children, aged from two to four, “display a strong sense of belonging.”
They are given hands-on experiences to support their creativity, with a “thoughtfully planned” indoor and outdoor environment and daily discussions and singing to develop language and communication skills.
The inspector said: “Children are engaged and demonstrate good decision-making skills.
“Staff provide extra support to help younger children stay focused and involved.
“Recent training in mathematics has strengthened staff’s confidence and subject knowledge, which they now apply well in their interactions with children.”
Good health and hygiene is also promoted, along with building of fine motor skills and independence.
To further improve the inspector recommended that the preschool integrate technology more consistently into the curriculum to develop children’s digital skills and confidence for future learning, and consistently use more specific next steps for learning.
‘Delighted’
The preschool’s trustees said they were “absolutely delighted” with the report.
They said: “This is a well-deserved recognition of the dedication, skill and hard work of our fantastic staff team, who provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for all our children.
“We are committed to supporting the preschool’s continuous improvement, and we are proud to see the positive impact it has on local families.
“We would also like to thank parents/carers for their trust and ongoing support, which plays such a vital role in the success of the preschool.”