Highfield Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The executive headteacher has cultivated an effective, cohesive team.

Together, they are quickly improving the quality of education that children receive. The executive headteacher, ably assisted by senior leaders, is determined and committed to ensuring that every child achieves their very best. Leaders have decisive plans for further improvement.

They provide staff with a range of high-quality training and professional development. Staff morale is high. Parents and carers agree that the school is a safe and happy place for their children to learn.

They value the school's 'family-centred' approach. Leaders ensure that the early ...years pupil premium funding for disadvantaged children is used effectively. Disadvantaged children make more progress and attain higher standards in all areas of learning than other children.

The provision for children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a strength of the school. Children are well prepared for life in modern Britain. They are respectful, tolerant and caring.

The curriculum is broad, balanced and dynamic. Staff plan exciting activities that meet the needs and interests of most children. Leaders ensure that the safety and well-being of children are paramount.

Leaders and staff act quickly to ensure that children at risk of harm are kept safe and receive timely support. Staff use questioning effectively to develop children's ideas or to follow their interests and fascinations. Staff have excellent relationships with children.

Children are valued as individuals. Children are inquisitive and curious learners. They enjoy being at school and have exceptionally positive attitudes to learning.

The behaviour of children is outstanding. Children make excellent progress in their personal, social and emotional development, physical development, and communication and language. Governors know the school well.

However, they do not receive enough information from leaders about the progress children make in the specific areas of learning to hold leaders to account effectively. Staff expectations of what children can achieve in writing are not always high enough. Some children, particularly the most able, could achieve more.

Attainment is improving, but not all children leave school with skills typical for their age in literacy and numeracy.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized nursery school. The school became part of the Wellingborough Federation of Nursery Schools in September 2015.

The headteacher of Croyland Nursery and Day Nursery became the headteacher of the school in September 2014 and now works as the executive headteacher across both schools. The schools share one governing body. There have been significant changes to staffing since the last inspection, with many key leadership roles now shared across the federation.

The proportion of children with SEND is average. The proportion of disadvantaged children is below average but is increasing over time. The proportions of children from ethnic minority backgrounds and of children who have English as an additional language are well above those seen nationally.