The foundations of an Outstanding Preschool setting
Several elements contribute to achieving and maintaining an Outstanding Early Years education setting. Our experts share their valuable insights:
1. Strong leadership and a shared vision
Strong leadership is a crucial foundation for an Outstanding nursery. It provides a clear vision and a collective drive for excellence in everything our Preschool Center does. We emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all staff, from apprentices to management, are aligned in their goals, continuously improving, and striving towards the same objectives.
2. Dynamic and responsive learning environments
An Outstanding Preschool is one where children’s natural curiosity and learning journeys are nurtured and supported every day in a stimulating learning environment that prioritizes children’s safety.
3. Nurturing secure attachments
Children thrive when they feel safe, secure and connected to their caregivers. When children feel emotionally secure, they are more confident, independent, and eager to learn. We emphasize how important it is for team members to form strong bonds and meaningful attachments with children, sharing insightful advice she often gives to her team: “I tell my team: No matter how long you need to hold a baby or walk with a young child to comfort them, do it. Secure attachments are essential—without them, children won’t feel safe, happy, or ready to learn.”
4. Continuous professional development & reflective practice
An Outstanding preschool is forever evolving. Regular mentoring, reflection and training are essential to keep preschool staff performing at their best. Our Team shares how training is deeply embedded into their daily practice, with staff frequently discussing how we teach young children, and all the things that our practitioners do to foster children’s learning and development), child development, and best practice.
5. Building strong relationships with families
We believe that families play a crucial role in a child’s development. Our preschool focus on fostering exceptional connections with families through strong parent partnership, ensuring they feel included in their child’s learning journey every step of the way.
Leading the way in Early Years excellence
Achieving and maintaining an Outstanding Early Years setting requires dedication, collaboration, and a genuine passion for Early Years education. The best preschools provide children with everything they need to feel safe, nurtured, and inspired—laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. We are proud to support all our unique preschools in their journeys to excellence, ensuring that every child we care for receives the highest quality of care and education.