Ilminster Avenue Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 12 November 2024

This is a friendly and inclusive place at the heart of the community it serves. Children receive a warm welcome from staff, which helps them to settle quickly. Staff know and meet children's individual needs well. The school has high expectations for what all children can achieve. Children enjoy their learning. They show high levels of curiosity. From the age of two, most children develop the language and social skills they need to become successful learners. Many are well prepared for the next stage of their education because of this. Staff take time to form positive and caring relationships with children. Children know why it is important to be kind and considerate of others. They respond well to the routines that are in place. As a result, there is a calm and purposeful environment, both in and outside classrooms. The school offers a range of opportunities to support children's personal development. Children learn why it is important to eat healthy food and how to use tools safely. When outside, they develop their understanding of teamwork. Children take pride in carrying out their 'special jobs' and helping to keep their school a tidy place.

What the school should improve

• There is some variability with the way in which staff engage in in high-quality interactions with children. When this happens, children do not develop or extend their speech and language as well as they could. The school need to ensure that all staff have the expertise they need to fully develop children's language and communication skills.
• The checks that some staff make of what children have learned are not as effective as they could be. As a result, some children do not build their knowledge well enough. The school needs to ensure that staff check what pupils know and remember across all areas of the curriculum and use this to inform future learning.

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