Stoneygate Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 January 2025

Children are happy at Stoneygate Nursery School. They benefit from caring and supportive relationships with staff. Children enjoy playing and investigating in the well- equipped classrooms and outdoor areas. They take part in learning activities with confidence. They know staff will help them to play and explore. Children achieve well from their differing starting points. This is because the school has high expectations for every child, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Typically, children move on to primary schools ready for the next stage of their learning. Children behave sensibly. Staff promote positive behaviour from the moment children join the two-year-old provision. Children learn to play cooperatively. They share and take turns with their friends. On rare occasions when children find this difficult, staff gently and effectively remind them of behaviour expectations. Building independence is an important aspect of the school's ambition for its children. Skilled staff help children learn the knowledge and skills to realise this. For example, children develop independence in pouring drinks, putting on aprons and tidying toys away. Through stories and celebrations, such as for Eid and Christmas, children learn about diversity among people and families. These experiences contribute well to children's broader development.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of areas of learning, the school is still determining the essential knowledge that children should learn. This makes it difficult for staff to design learning activities that build on what children already know. The school should clarify the foundational knowledge children should learn in each area of the curriculum.
• Some governors are still developing in their roles. This means that the level of challenge the governing body currently offers does not hold the school fully to account. Governors should improve their knowledge and skills so they can support and challenge the school effectively to further improve the quality of education that children receive.

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