A PRESCHOOL in Weston has been praised by Ofsted for encouraging children to develop a "positive attitude to their learning."

Ellenborough Park Preschool can be found at 14 Ellenborough Park South and was inspected on November 14. The facility was rated 'Good'.

The Ofsted report reads: "The curriculum is well-designed to support younger children to learn new skills and for older and more able ones to practice them and gain a positive attitude to their learning.

"For example, children take turns well as they play hopscotch. After practising on the stepping stones, they learn to jump with two feet close together and then wide apart. More able children gain confidence to hop onto the single square.

"Children lead their own learning and challenge each other. For example, children use the chalk to draw a road from the hopscotch grid and encourage their friends to walk along and balance on the line.

"Children play nicely together. They agree on the rules for their game, 'hunt the gems'. For example, they decide to put gems in a cardboard tube when they find them. They remind each other of the rules throughout so that anyone joining the game understands.

"Children talk about where they have looked and agree where to look next. Children show fascination as they explore the paint. They make marks on the glass frame and watch the paints' movements as it drips to the bottom. Staff build on children's knowledge and help them to explore the paint further.

"Children are helpful towards each other, offering to paint their friends' hand so that they can make prints and mix colours. Staff use happy and sad faces well to ensure children learning English as an additional language (EAL) or who are less confident can voice their agreement."

It was also noted that the school has effective safeguarding policies: "Staff have good knowledge of the indicators that a child may be at risk of harm. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) understands her responsibilities to report any concerns about a child to appropriate agencies. Staff implement policies and procedures effectively."

To improve, it was noted that staff need to make sure they continue to encourage children to make their own discoveries and ensure they are engaging in purposeful learning.