Caversham Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 June 2026

Children love coming to this nursery, where relationships with families sit at its heart. From the moment they arrive, children thrive. They are welcomed into calm, well-organised classrooms. Children settle quickly and learn to play and learn alongside one another. They behave well. Staff model kindness and help children to understand and talk about their feelings. Disagreements are resolved thoughtfully. If children become upset or overwhelmed, adults provide gentle, consistent support. This helps children to calm down and return to their learning. Children feel safe. Staff know families so well. They build positive relationships through home visits and regular communication. This knowledge ensures that any worries are identified quickly and acted on. Adults supervise carefully as children move freely between indoor and outdoor spaces. They teach children how to keep themselves safe, for example when climbing large equipment, using tools to prepare fruit at snack time or serving themselves at lunchtime. This results in children having a deep sense of belonging. Children enjoy learning. They listen intently to well-chosen books, join in with repeated refrains, and discuss key ideas from a text thoughtfully. Adults encourage rich conversation. They introduce new vocabulary skilfully. Children make up their own stories. They buy and sell items in the shop, participate in bug hunts, and confidently use equipment in the outdoor area. These experiences build their language, physical development, and early mathematical understanding. Local visits and festival celebrations help children to learn about the community around them and the wider world. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, or who are disadvantaged, achieve very well from their starting points. Accurate assessment and well-targeted support in all areas, helps to reduce barriers to learning. Staff work closely with families to promote regular attendance and punctuality. This helps children make the most of their time in school. By the time they leave, children are confident, impressively independent, and very well prepared for the next stage of their education.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to refine assessment approaches so that they improve children's educational experiences even further.

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