St Paul's Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 26 September 2023

It is clear from the motto at St Paul's Nursery School that 'all are welcome'. There is a strong ethos of care and kindness from staff towards children. Staff quickly form strong relationships with children. Leaders actively build positive relationships with parents at the earliest opportunity. Transitional pre-school visits help staff to understand children well, even before they have started in school. Children are well supported to follow routines that help them to develop positive learning behaviours. Even the youngest children move calmly through school. Staff specifically demonstrate to children how to treat each other with respect. For example, children are taught how to share and take turns during snack time. Children develop confidence to play amicably with, and alongside, their peers in a safe environment. Leaders are ambitious for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children are taught how to begin to recognise their own emotions and to communicate these to staff in an age-appropriate way. This supports children to develop a strong sense of identity and self-respect. The specially resourced provision for children with SEND (specially resourced provision) is carefully considered by leaders, and children with the most complex needs are well supported to develop their skills to become ready for the next stage of their education. Staff care about children and are passionate about them being successful.

What the school should improve

• Some aspects of the early years curriculum are not defined clearly enough. As a result, in these areas of learning, children do not build their knowledge, skills and vocabulary in small sequential steps over time to be fully prepared for the next stage of their education. The school should ensure that it identifies the smallest pieces of crucial knowledge and related vocabulary that they intend children to learn consistently across all seven areas of learning.
• There is some variation in the precision and quality of how staff interact with children and facilitate their learning. Sometimes this limits the opportunities to develop children's vocabulary and understanding when they are learning. The school should ensure that staff are supported to enact the curriculum through their interactions, activity choices and the resources that they set up in the learning environment.

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