Somerville Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 January 2025

Children at the school are happy and feel good about themselves. This is because the school focuses on them as special people. Staff help children to settle, to be calm and to make friends. This means that when children feel upset about anything, they can share their worries and feel reassured. Children respond well to the school's clear expectations of their behaviour. Beginning in the class for two-year-olds, staff guide children gently in how to listen and respond to adults. They teach children to cooperate with each other and to respect other people and their choices. This work continues successfully with three- and four-year-olds, making sure that they are well prepared for primary school. Children achieve well. This is because the school has high expectations of them. Teachers and teaching assistants enthuse children about learning new information and being explorers and thinkers. Children want to know even more. Children develop new skills while at the school, such as how to play tag rugby or how to be an archer. They profit from the school's many well-thought-out educational trips, for example to the beach, theatre and zoo. The school makes sure that children are well prepared for their future lives.

What the school should improve

• On occasion, some of the school's curriculum does not make clear the component knowledge that staff will teach. This means that, at times, staff are less well focused on teaching this knowledge and children do not learn as much as they could. The school should make sure that it considers the curriculum content for each area of learning equally well.

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