Hoyle Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Hoyle Nursery School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

What is it like to attend this school?

Children are eager to come to this nursery, where everyone is welcome. They are greeted warmly when they arrive each day and look forward to exploring the captivating activities that staff have prepared for them.

Children are safe and happy as they explore the learning environment on offer. Staff have children's best interests and welfare at heart. The exceptional relationships staff have with children create a warm and secure atmosphere where children thrive.

Whatever their starting points, children are exceptionally well ...supported in their learning and play by staff who are experts in understanding the needs of young children. In turn, children are inquisitive learners. The excellent start they enjoy ensures that children are fully prepared for their next school.

Behaviour is outstanding. Children form strong friendships and happily play together with care and kindness. Staff are experts at helping children learn about their feelings and express themselves.

Children can be heard confidently explaining why they are happy or sad.

Rain or shine, children are eager and excited to play in their magical outdoor area, which is packed full of interesting nooks and crannies. There are ramps to balance on, trees to climb, dens to hide in and cosy corners to talk with friends.

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

Since the last inspection, the school has continued to go from strength to strength. The school delivers an exceptionally well-designed and ambitious curriculum. This is particularly effective for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and children who speak English as an additional language.

Children are offered the very best foundation for their future education, and the school is highly successful at making this happen.

Staff have a thorough knowledge of the areas of learning they teach. They skilfully adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of children.

There are plenty of opportunities for children to revisit and recap important learning in adult-led activities and free play. High-quality staff training, coupled with a purposefully designed curriculum, ensures that children's achievement is excellent.

The provision for two- and three-year-olds is a hive of activity and caters exceptionally well for these young children.

Staff are experts at teaching this age group. They sidle up to children to play alongside them and then make the most of every learning opportunity.

Throughout the nursery, staff seize every opportunity to skilfully use their interactions with children to develop their communication and language.

This includes children who speak English as an additional language. Staff are quick to build on children's interests and curiosity. They expertly and sensitively add to and reinforce new vocabulary.

Children quickly find their voice, knowing they will always be heard.

The enjoyment of reading and storytelling is a prominent feature of school life. Children gravitate towards staff to listen to a story.

Children practise their growing knowledge and understanding of stories as they play with puppets and props. For example, children delight in retelling the 'Three Little Pigs' story. Older children begin to learn the letters and sounds they encounter regularly, such as in their names, and how to blend simple sounds orally to make words.

Staff are particularly effective at identifying and supporting children with SEND. They expertly use their knowledge of each child to put the right strategies in place to make sure that children get the support they need. The school has a small specially resourced provision for children with SEND (specially resourced provision).

These children receive expert support from staff who have a strong understanding of their needs. Children with SEND blossom and succeed alongside their peers.

Children are highly motivated to learn.

They listen attentively to staff and enthusiastically engage in activities with their peers. The school excels at building strong, supportive relationships with parents and carers. These trusting relationships help the school instil and reinforce the importance of their child attending school regularly.

The school carefully nurtures the personal development of children. They learn about the local and wider community. For example, children take local residents bunches of daffodils in spring and cards at Christmas.

This supports children to develop their confidence and builds their understanding of different people.

Governors share the school's passion for providing the best for children. Staff value the support they receive for their well-being and workload.

They appreciate the time the school gives them to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Staff are very proud to work at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted's website. From September 2024, graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade.

This school was, before September 2024, judged outstanding for its overall effectiveness.

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school's work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be outstanding for overall effectiveness in October 2019.