Great Shefford Under Fives

Activities: Children learn from an exceptional range of activities and opportunities. For instance, they fly kites in the park, cook sausages on campfires, learn about musical instruments from different countries and simulate milking a cow to learn where milk comes from. They visit the local woods, paddle in the village stream and walk through the wildflower meadows.

Skills , Knowledge and Behavior: Staff skilfully incorporate mathematics and problem solving into everyday interactions. In a throwing game, children calculate how many turns they have left and whose turn it is next. They also make marks to record the results, working out who has hit the target the most.

Communication: Partnership with parents is exemplary. Each child is visited at home prior to starting the setting, to help their transition. Parents are exceptionally well informed about their children's learning.

Community Building: Children are warmly welcomed into this inspirational setting, where they develop an exceptionally strong sense of community.

Welcoming and Professional Staff: The manager is inspirational. The dedication she and her team give to the care and education of the children who attend the provision is outstanding.

Safeguarding Training: Staff receive in-depth safeguarding training and have opportunities to regularly refresh their knowledge.

Play and Learning Integration: Staff provide an abundance of opportunities for the children to learn outdoors. They play in local woods, paddle in streams and walk through wildflower meadows.

Transition to Primary School: Each child is visited at home prior to starting the setting, to help their transition.

Child Safety Management: Staff carry out effective risk assessments to keep children safe.

Children's Safety and Security: Children show impeccable manners, waiting for everyone to sit down before commencing their meal.

Teaching Personal Safety: Children are kind, helpful and caring towards others. Children learn healthy practices, such as healthy foods, exercise and the importance of sleep.

Happiness and Settling: The provision is outstanding. Children are warmly welcomed into this inspirational setting, where they develop an exceptionally strong sense of community. Their behaviour is excellent. Children are observed negotiating with each other to solve problems.

Nutritional Menu: Parents are encouraged to make healthy choices for the children when providing packed lunches and have access to information from a dietician on how to support healthy eating.