St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 January 2024

Children settle in quickly and play happily at St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School. The nursery's nurturing atmosphere is central to this. When children need a little extra help to feel safe and secure, staff care for them with warmth and sensitivity. A parent summed up the views of many when they said that their child 'wakes up every morning excited to go in'. Children behave impeccably. They understand the clear routines for the day, including the number of children allowed in designated learning areas like the home corner. Staff help them to manage sharing and taking turns. They teach children to solve conflicts positively and to be respectful and kind to each other. Children also learn how to look after their nursery environment. For example, children empty the water tray into a bucket using a larger container with care. Children's excellent behaviour is underpinned by the positive relationships they have with staff. Leaders have high expectations for children. They focus on building children's resilience and independence. They introduce children to high-quality picture books, as well as songs and rhymes. Children love to repeat these stories in their play. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are extremely well supported. They learn happily alongside their peers.

What the school should improve

• In some areas of learning, the small component steps of knowledge that children need to be secure in are not as well defined as they should be. As a result, some planned tasks and activities do not build cumulatively on what has been previously learned. The school should ensure that the small steps of learning are clearly identified so that the planned learning enables children to build upon their previous knowledge and skills.

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