Oxhey Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 November 2023

Children feel welcome, included and valued here. They come into school happily. They start each day confident that there will be fun and interesting things to do. Children quickly develop strong relationships with their key workers and other adults in school. They know these adults care about them. Children ask for help when they need it. Adults give children the reassurance they need. They help children to manage tricky feelings. Children also grow in independence. They learn to dress themselves appropriately when choosing where to play. Routines are clear. Staff's consistent expectations help children learn to behave well. Children are drawn to the stimulating activities set out each day, indoors and out. They love to dance to the wide range of music they hear. They play together kindly. They tend their garden with great care, growing strawberries, carrots and potatoes to harvest and eat. Children look carefully at nature, for example studying the bug hotel or autumn leaves. They start to concentrate well, ready for their next steps in school life. Children develop their understanding of each other and their community. They sing at a local care home and visit shops and allotments nearby. The school welcomes families in to share their festivals and celebrations.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, where subject knowledge is weaker, staff sometimes miss opportunities to secure and extend learning. When this happens, children miss out on extra practice of new words and ideas. The school should continue to give staff the training they need to know all subjects well and adjust their teaching when required.
• Some subject leaders are relatively new to their roles. They are still developing their curriculum knowledge and support for colleagues. As a result, curriculum provision is not consistently strong in all areas. The school should ensure that subject leaders get the right training and support to carry out their roles effectively.

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