Whitehills Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 November 2023

Children learn and play together happily at this warm and inclusive nursery school. Adults take the time to understand the needs of the children in their care. They ensure that the support children receive is well matched to their needs. As a result, children settle well into nursery routines. They develop secure relationships and learn in a positive environment. The school has set high expectations for all children. Staff plan purposeful activities linked to children's interests. Children are excited and interested in their learning. However, some further refinement is needed in aspects of the planned curriculum. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the nursery school. They appreciate how their child is supported and nurtured. As one parent said, with a comment typical of many, 'It is a wonderful environment for all the children.' Children behave extremely well. They confidently ask adults for help and feel secure in the knowledge that their needs will be met. Children learn to understand their emotions right from the very start. They learn to recognise, manage and regulate 'big emotions' in an appropriate way. Adults help children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to learn different strategies for when they may feel overwhelmed or upset.

What the school should improve

• The school's curriculum is not as precise as it could be. It does not give sufficient detail or consideration to some of the key knowledge and early language that children need to know and remember. This risks some children having gaps in their early development. The school must ensure that it further refines its curriculum so that the key knowledge and vocabulary that all children should know and recall in the different areas of learning are detailed and precise.

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