Thornton Heath Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 October 2023

Children settle quickly and play happily in this nursery school. Many of them especially love the nursery's magical garden. They have exciting opportunities to run, climb, and cultivate the vegetable patch using real gardening tools. Children grow in confidence and learn to manage risks sensibly as a result of taking part in these challenging activities. When children need a little extra help to feel safe and secure, staff care for them with warmth and sensitivity. Staff have high expectations. They work skilfully to help children succeed in tricky tasks. For example, children carefully fill and empty containers in the water tray. They enjoy making their own bread, which they eat together. Staff introduce children to high-quality picture books, songs and rhymes. Children love to repeat these stories in their play. Children understand the clear routines of the day, listening out for the church bells, which also signal that it is snack time in the morning. Staff help them to manage sharing and taking turns. Any minor incidents of poor behaviour are quickly dealt with in a calm, low-key manner. As a result, children are learning to play cooperatively and to listen to the adults and to each other.

What the school should improve

• In some instances, the school's curriculum thinking lacks precision. As a result, some activities do not help children to build secure early learning. The school should ensure that staff continue to develop their expertise in early education so that the activities they plan put the school's curriculum into action.

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