A PRESCHOOL in Frampton Cotterell has been described as “wonderful” by an inspector, who praised its high-quality and “ambitious” curriculum.
Crossbow Preschool was rated as ‘good’ in all areas following a visit by Ofsted in March.
Inspector Sarah-Louise Clements said parents told her their children love attending the pre-school, based in St Peter’s Hall in School Road.
She said parents described staff as “friendly and nurturing”, adding: “Parents are well informed about what their children are learning and how they can continue this at home.
“They also have the opportunity to be ‘parent helpers’ and be involved in the pre-school day.
“Families are valued and well supported.”
The inspector said staff know the children very well and develop strong relationships, using information from parents and ongoing assessments to tailor teaching to meet the needs of each individual child.
The regulator found the pre-school to be well-equipped, with resources and activities that put children at its centre. It has 24 places for two to four-year-old children.
The inspector said: “Children build meaningful relationships and demonstrate they feel safe and secure.
“They confidently seek adults to share their achievements. Staff respond with delight and enthusiasm.
“Children play together co-operatively.”
The report highlighted outdoor activities including “muddy Mondays” when children are taken on trips to the local woods.
They can also ride on trikes and make obstacle courses in the garden.
The inspector said staff implement a “high-quality ambitious curriculum” that puts the children at the centre.
She said: “Staff create activities to follow the children’s interests and challenge their learning.
“They enthusiastically facilitate and extend children’s learning at all possible opportunities.”
Staff also have high expectations for children’s behaviour, and encourage children to resolve their own disagreements and work together to achieve a positive outcome.
The inspector said the pre-school could still improve its support for with children with special educational needs or disabilities.
Crossbow Preschool was first established in 1971. However the provision was completely reorganised after Ofsted’s last visit in 2019, when an inspector said it required improvement.
Managers say both the committee and the staff have worked “incredibly hard” to improve the pre-school and the report proved that the work had paid off.
The pre-school’s Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) chair Claire Wilkinson told the Voice the report was a testament to the hard work of all the team.
She said: “Crossbow is a very special place with fantastic opportunities to learn and play.
“We would like to take the opportunity to thank the staff for all of their efforts as they continue to build on this excellent foundation, giving the children the best possible experience at preschool.
“We are very proud of the strong relationships that the preschool has with parents and the wider community and we will continue to work together to ensure that Crossbow carries on being a welcoming, engaging and thriving place for our children.”