Millfields Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Millfields Nursery is a special place for children to learn, play and grow. They flourish due to the standard of education and care that they receive.

There is an incredibly inclusive culture which nourishes the whole community. Children, including those with a wide range of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. The school's motto of 'we play, learn and achieve together' is embodied throughout all the school's work.

Children love coming to school. They cannot wait to come into the nursery school every day with smiles on their faces. They settle quickly and are fully involved in exciting learning experiences from the moment they arrive..../>
Music and rhymes are heard being sung throughout the day. Staff set a high standard for behaviour, which all children follow. Children are incredibly independent and can fetch and tidy the resources they need themselves.

The 'tidy up team' makes sure the rooms are neat and tidy at the end of sessions.

Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school. One parent's comment was typical when they said, 'Our child strolls into nursery every day happy and we know they enjoy themselves when they are there.'



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

The school is highly ambitious for all its children. It has implemented many improvements to the curriculum since the previous inspection. The passion and motivation shown by governors and staff for giving every child an exciting education is evident.

The curriculum has been designed to ensure that children develop the knowledge, skills and vocabulary they need to be well prepared for the next stage of their education. For example, communication and language underpin the whole curriculum. Stories, rhymes and songs form a central part of this.

Staff have skilfully chosen books and rhymes to develop children's early reading and language skills. Children begin to develop a lifelong love of books. When they are ready, children learn about the individual sounds which make up words.

Similarly, in mathematics, children learn and practise counting, recognising shapes and measuring activities throughout the day.

Staff use the new curriculum information to plan interesting and engaging activities for children. They make sure all areas of learning are covered in enough depth.

Staff are particularly adept at making sure children learn well during 'focus group' time at the start of sessions. They plan many activities to develop important skills and knowledge while children are playing and learning. However, on occasion, some opportunities to develop children's knowledge is missed during these times.

Staff know the children extremely well. They use a wide range of information to understand the children's needs both educationally and personally. This information is then used to plan suitable learning and activities for the children.

Staff also gain valuable information from parents. Parents attend regular 'story cafes' which helps them how to understand and support children's learning at home.

Provision for children with SEND is very strong.

Children's additional needs are identified quickly, often before they arrive at the school. Children with SEND receive the right support to help them access the full curriculum. For example, some receive specialist support in the sensory room and are then well supported to learn alongside their peers in all other areas of the school.

This ensures that all children are well prepared to move on to primary school.

Staff support for children's wider personal development is exemplary. For example, children's particular talents are spotted early and nurtured.

This means that many children are well placed to develop these talents when they move to primary school. Children understand the need for good oral health. They say, 'you've got to brush 'em twice a day'.

Children often choose the trips that they want to go on. The whole school community enjoys an annual trip to the seaside.

Staff value leaders' consideration as well as the time they are given to plan and assess.

They are provided with many opportunities for further professional development. Staff morale is high, and this positivity permeates throughout the school.

Governors are highly committed.

They use their specific skills and knowledge of the community to provide effective challenge and support for the school. The local authority also provides accurate and useful oversight for the work of the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• On occasion, staff do not always plan activities that help children to remember what they have learned. This means that children do not always get the most benefit from their learning and play. The school should ensure staff support children's learning across the day.