Ripley Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 15 December 2023

Ripley Nursery School aspires for all its children to develop positive attitudes in preparation for a 'lifetime of learning'. Highly skilled adults nurture, inspire and enable children to grow and learn. No limit is put on what children can accomplish, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The learning environment is warm and inviting. It sparks children's curiosity and imagination. Carefully planned activities stimulate children's interests. Children's learning is productive and purposeful. For example, children in the outdoor art studio consider how they can manipulate and change the materials they work with while they express their ideas and creativity. Staff know and value every child. From the very start, they ensure that they understand each child's holistic needs. With patience, staff show children how to do things so that, over time, they become increasingly independent. Children's attitudes to learning are strong. They play together happily and cooperatively. They pay attention to and show interest in what others say and do. A strong partnership with parents and carers is prioritised. As one parent commented, typical of many: 'The nursery provides such a warm, friendly home-from-home environment.'

What the school should improve

• The movement and dance aspects of the school's EAD curriculum are not as well sequenced as other aspects of this area of learning. This limits how well children can communicate and express their ideas through dance and movement. The school must continue the work it has already started to ensure that all aspects of the EAD curriculum are well sequenced.

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