Castleway Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 September 2024

This school is a happy, friendly place to attend as a child and to look for support as a parent or carer. This is because it notices and values each individual person. The school successfully teaches children that everyone is equal and has a right to be valued by others and to be themselves. Children's positive behaviour indicates that they feel safe. They settle and thrive because of the caring, high-quality relationships that staff establish with them. Due to the school's high expectations, children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. They gain new skills and knowledge from the learning activities and support that staff thoughtfully provide. Children love coming to school, not least to learn how to care for the school hens, last year named 'Nugget' and 'Popcorn' by the children. Children, including two-year-olds, learn to be physically active. For example, they learn to swing themselves on a tyre-and-rope swing in the school's woodland area. Children learn too about the importance of eating healthy food such as fruit. Encouraged and supported by staff, children learn that peeling one's own fruit and tidying up are also important responsibilities. In this way, they learn essential skills for life.

What the school should improve

• On occasion, the school does not ensure that some staff use language and questions carefully to support and extend children's thinking. At these times, children develop their knowledge of the curriculum less well. The school should ensure that all staff have the expertise that they need to support children's learning of the curriculum.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)