Brearley Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Brearley Nursery is a special place for children to learn, play and grow.

They flourish due to the excellent standard of education and nurturing that they receive. Children enter school with smiles on their faces and settle down to activities quickly. They enjoy talking about the things they learn.

Children develop skills of curiosity, exploration and language through activities such as acting out stories, baking and studying animals.

Children behave extremely well. Adults are wonderful role models for them.

They show children how to be kind and to respect others. They help children to take turns and share. The nursery is a happy, harmonious and high...-achieving community.

Parents and carers are extremely happy with the school and say that their children thrive. They receive regular information about their children's learning. They value the high expectations adults have of children and the time they spend getting to know everyone.

Children relish the many exciting opportunities offered. For example, they learn about the importance of healthy eating through a gardening club. Children, parents and staff plant and nurture seeds outdoors.

Children watch with fascination as these seeds grow into vegetables and plants.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The headteacher and leaders have made many changes since the last inspection. They lead the school extremely well.

For example, they have ensured that teaching is consistently strong and that adults develop children's thinking skills well. The school's motto 'A safe place to hope, learn, play, enjoy and grow' is threaded through all aspects of the school's provision. Leaders and staff are resolutely focused on providing outstanding education and exemplary care.

They ensure that children thrive in an environment where a love of learning is promoted by everyone. Adults support children to grow into confident, caring, responsible citizens, in and out of school.

Leaders' and staff's passion for giving every child an exciting education is notable.

Plans are clear and ambitious. Leaders ensure there are no limits to what the children can achieve.Adults make sure that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make exceptional progress through the curriculum.

The leader of special educational needs ensures that no child slips through the net. Children's additional needs are identified quickly, and they receive the right support to help them access the full curriculum. This ensures that children are well prepared to move on to primary school.

Adults support children to develop their speaking and listening skills effectively. They model spoken English accurately. They also encourage children to use sentences and new words when they are speaking.

For example, children confidently use a range of vocabulary when talking about animals. For instance, they explain that some animals are 'nocturnal' and understand what this word means. Children make excellent progress in their communication skills.

They are keen to talk about what they can do. They remember and repeat rhymes they have been taught, such as 'one behind the other', for lining up.

Adults have created a setting where children feel treasured, valued and listened to.

Relationships between adults and children are excellent. Children respect each other and celebrate each other's achievements. Children say, 'We are all friends at school.'

They are highly motivated and sustain their concentration when learning.

Adults read daily to children. They think very carefully about the stories they choose.

Children enjoy books, stories and rhymes. They select books independently from the book baskets, take them to the carpet and sit and read them. Adults help children bring stories to life.

For example, children mix up porridge and compare amounts in bowls when learning the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'.

Phonics sessions support children to develop their reading skills well. Adults make sure that they keep a close check on what children learn.

They use this information to plan learning activities that build children's knowledge. Staff help parents to support their children with reading at home.

Leaders have ensured that the school's environment, inside and outside, is exciting and interesting.

Learning spaces and resources motivate and inspire children to explore, play and learn. Outdoors, there are lots of opportunities to develop children's physical skills, such as climbing and balancing.

The opportunities children encounter add significantly to their personal development.

They take part in a broad range of high-quality projects and cultural visits. These include taking it in turns to be the 'leader of the day' and having the opportunity to go on a residential farm visit.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding in this school. Children's safety, welfare and well-being are at the heart of the school's work. Adults have regular training and are aware of potential risks.

They are vigilant and know how to raise and report concerns. Leaders act swiftly when children require extra help. They share information with agencies to make sure that children at risk are protected and supported.

Effective record-keeping and processes are in place. Appropriate pre-employment checks are carried out when appointing staff to ensure they are suitable to work with children. Children learn about keeping themselves safe.