AN inspector has praised a Yate pre-school’s skilful staff, varied curriculum and strong partnerships with parents.
Regulator Ofsted visited St Mary’s Pre-School, at St Mary’s Youth Centre in Church Road, in March.
Inspector Marie Swindells found the pre-school, which has 60 children aged from two to four on its roll, was ‘good’ in all areas – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.
The inspector said: “Children benefit from warm, loving interactions from the attentive staff.
“Partnerships with parents are strong.
“Parent feedback is highly complimentary. They say their children make great progress, and they comment on the ‘family feel’ of the pre-school.”
The inspector said children are “supported to learn the skills required to be independent for their transition to school and successful future learning”.
She praised the way staff “confidently weave mathematical language into children’s play”.
The report said: “Children benefit from a varied curriculum that is based around what they need to learn next.
“They make good progress while at pre-school. All areas of children’s learning are promoted well.
‘Strong focus’ on speech and language
“There is a particularly strong focus on supporting children’s speech and language and personal skills. Staff spend a lot of time using simple language with two-year-old children.”
The inspector said the pre-school is “fully inclusive”, with activities planned to ensure all children can participate, including those with special educational needs or disabilities.
St Mary’s provides care between 9am and 3pm each weekday, during term time only. It employs nine members of staff.
It was the first visit by the regulator to St Mary’s for six years, when it was rated ‘outstanding’ under a previous marking system.
‘My staff team are incredible’
Proprietor Rachel Moore welcome the inspector’s findings.
She said: “I’d like to thank all my staff team for all their amazing dedication towards all the children and their families in our care and thank all the parents who choose us.
“My staff team are incredible – they ensure all children’s learning is tailored for their developmental needs.
“They work tirelessly to ensure our environment provides a loving calm safe place for all children, where they are valued and respected equally and given opportunities to learn and develop and believe in themselves.
“Thank you to our children for being who they are.”