Gloucester Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 June 2025

Gloucester Nursery School is a special place. Its glowing, long-standing reputation in the local community is well deserved. Parents and carers cannot speak highly enough of the school's nurturing ethos. The school has high aspirations for all its children. It truly lives by its motto that 'every child and family matters'. The school's sharp focus on independence and resilience ensures that children are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Staff empower children to do things for themselves and to try again if they struggle at first. Staff have created a warm, caring environment where children feel happy, safe and secure. Children enjoy their time at school and attend well. By watching Jamiee, the school's puppet, children quickly learn how they must behave and how to treat others with respect. Through Jamiee, staff also teach children about their emotions and how to manage their feelings effectively. Teaching children how to be healthy is a central part of the school's successful work. Staff show children how to brush their teeth properly. Children enjoy a range of wholesome snacks. They grow their own fruit and vegetables. Staff encourage children to be physically active in the school's spacious outdoor areas.

What the school should improve

• At times, staff are unsure about the specific vocabulary they need to develop through each learning activity and when supporting children's play. Consequently, some children do not develop their communication and language skills as well as they could. The school should identify fully the important words that children should know across the curriculum and ensure that staff have a clear understanding of the key vocabulary that children must learn at each stage of their development.
• The school has not fully ensured that staff have the knowledge they require to support the needs of disadvantaged children consistently. As a result, some disadvantaged children do not overcome gaps in their learning as well as they could. The school must ensure that all disadvantaged children get the help they need to achieve as well as possible.

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