By Chris Story

Last updated at 15:06, Friday, 01 February 2013

Staff at a village pre-school say they are delighted after being rated as ‘good’ by education inspectors.

Isobelle Scott-Lamont

Scotby Pre-School has been given the second-highest ranking possible following a visit by Ofsted.

They have praised the progress being made by the young children under the establishment’s care and the work of its leaders.

Results of its inspection are an improvement on the ‘satisfactory’ rating given during its last visit in 2010.

Good scores were given across the board for how well the needs of children who attend are met, the provision for well-being and the effectiveness of leadership and management.

Sonja Thompson has been Scotby Pre-School’s manager for the past 14 years.

She said: “We’re pleased with the report. All the staff are.

“The inspector was really nice. We carried on with our work and she watched as we went through our daily routine.”

Scotby Pre-School operates from the village’s hall, near Carlisle. It was registered in 1976 and has a 32-strong roll of children and six staff.

Ofsted say in their report: “Children make good progress in their learning and development.

“This is because they are well supported in their play and through the staff’s detailed knowledge of their key children and the next steps in their learning.

“Staff develop a strong bond with each of the children in their care and support their well-being effectively.

“Therefore, they feel happy, safe and secure.

“Children develop good independence and self-help skills because staff allow them time to complete their tasks and provide them with guidance that successfully helps them attempt and achieve things for themselves.”

Inspectors add that staff are “highly experienced” with a “spacious, welcoming and well-organised environment for children”.

Healthy eating is encouraged by leaders who work “exceptionally well” together, the report continues.

Scotby did not achieve the top rating of outstanding because of a lack of resources and visual images to support children’s understanding of the world.

There is also a lack of print displayed in the environment, meaning opportunities to help children develop early reading skills or help them understand that words carry meaning are not fully promoted.

To improve, Ofsted says opportunities for children to develop their understanding of the world by providing treasure baskets filled with items to explore why things happen and how they work

First published at 14:33, Friday, 01 February 2013
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk