A HARLOW pre-school has been praised by Ofsted following a recent inspection.

Sunflower Sherards is based at Ployters Road in Harlow.

When they were inspected in November 2024, they were told they “required improvement”.

Ofsted returned in March and have now rated them as “Good”.

The report states:

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children confidently part from their parents and carers on arrival at the pre-school,
where they are greeted by kind and caring staff. Children are greeted by their
friends and quickly join them in their play. Some enjoy using their imagination as
they dress in beautiful princess costumes and parade through the setting. Staff are
close by to help and support children, always encouraging them to have a go
before stepping in. This helps them to become strong and confident. Children are
caring and thoughtful towards each other. They use good manners and speak
kindly. When children show a fear of flying insects, others come to protect them.
Staff act as good role models, calmly speaking to children and encouraging them to
share the resources and work together.

Children understand the daily routines and enthusiastically participate in group
activities, such as an adult-led dance and movement session. They efficiently follow
the staff’s instructions to wave their ‘pom-poms’ high in the air, down low or round
and round in a circle. Staff use such activities to encourage children to exercise
their fingers in preparation for developing their early writing skills.

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

The senior management team has improved its effectiveness significantly since
the last inspection. Staff and managers feel more supported in their roles and
are now provided with better opportunities to access training. Staff receive
regular supervision and support to help them to fulfil their roles.

Staff now receive more effective training to help them understand the pre-
school’s safeguarding procedures, which have been updated to include what
action to take for any allegations against staff. Staff are deployed effectively, so
children are well supervised. Support for children with special educational needs
and/or disabilities has been reviewed and improved to help them make good
progress.

Parents speak highly of the staff and management team. They comment that
they feel their children are safe and well cared for. Those with children who
require special care feel that staff implement effective care plans to ensure their
children remain well and safe. Parents say that a key strength of the pre-school
is that staff are so caring towards their children.

Children listen attentively to stories read excitingly and engagingly by staff.
They join in with their favourite parts and enjoy predicting what is going to
happen next in the story. Children enthusiastically participate in singing and
rhyme sessions, choosing their favourite songs.

Children enjoy participating in creative activities. At times, staff use too much
direction, preventing children from freely expressing themselves. Staff provide
some resources to enable children to choose creative materials. But, these are
not presented invitingly to enthuse and excite the children to use them.

Staff find out about children’s home language when they first start at the pre-
school. However, they do not always make the best use of their knowledge of
children’s home languages to help children communicate and articulate their
needs in their play.

Children have access to some resources that help them develop an interest in
mathematics. However, staff do not routinely use language that helps to
enhance children’s interest in mathematics in their everyday activities.

Staff encourage children to engage in conversations as they ask clear and
purposeful questions. Staff allow time for children to consider their thoughts and
respond. This helps to enhance children’s knowledge and develop their
communication and language skills.

Children have good opportunities to extend their knowledge of the wider
community when they go for walks in the local area. They visit parks and
playgrounds, shops and other places of interest. Managers and staff plan to
further enhance children’s outdoor experiences, both in the pre-school garden
and through such trips.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s
interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider
should:
review the use of available resources and teaching strategies to promote
children’s creativity and enable them to freely express themselves

build on staff’s understanding of the importance of using children’s home
languages to help children understand and extend their communication skills

strengthen the implementation of mathematics to support children to use
numbers and counting during their play.