The Gainsborough Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The warmest welcome awaits any child who attends The Gainsborough Nursery School. Staff greet children enthusiastically when they arrive, helping them to settle quickly.

Leaders, staff and governors have great aspirations for every child. They want to give all children the very best start in life, so they are fully prepared for the next stage of their education.

Children are happy and content.

They feel safe and secure. Children enjoy their time in school. They learn and play cheerfully with their friends and the staff.

They love singing songs and listening to stories.

Children form strong, trusting relationships with the staff. Staff know t...he children very well.

They celebrate each child's individuality and make them feel special. Staff provide high-quality care. They help children to understand how they are feeling.

Staff provide comfort and reassurance. They nurture children's individuality and confidence.

Children behave well.

Staff teach them to share, take turns and be kind to one another. Most of the time, staff help children to sustain their concentration and interest, so they benefit fully from the activities on offer.

Parents and carers cannot speak highly enough of the school.

They are full of praise for all the staff.

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

All areas of learning have been planned meticulously. Every strand of the curriculum builds towards an ambitious goal for children to achieve in readiness for Reception.

The school has planned the knowledge and skills that children need to learn in a series of small, progressive steps. The school has also set out the key vocabulary that children must learn. However, staff do not always teach these important terms when there is a chance to do so.

The school has thought carefully about the books that will be read to children. Through these texts, children become familiar with traditional tales. They also learn about the rich, diverse world they live in.

Stories are read from the moment children arrive in the morning to the time they leave. Staff tell stories in an absorbing way, creating suspense and excitement.

The school wants children to be immersed in a world of chatter.

Most of the time, staff converse skilfully with children. For example, they narrate what is happening so that children hear new words and how to speak. They ask pertinent questions to prompt children to talk and to extend their thinking.

However, this practice is not consistent. Children do not always benefit from high-quality interactions during free- choice time. Their communication and language skills are not always developed as well as they might be.

The school identifies children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) quickly. Staff support children with SEND well. Staff appreciate the guidance they receive to support children with SEND effectively.

Precise targets are in place to help children with SEND to make good progress.

The school makes sure that parents understand the importance of children attending as often as possible. When children do not attend regularly, the school works well with families so that children can reap the full benefit of nursery education.

The school goes to great lengths to support children and families in need.

Being active is a priority at Gainsborough. The school ensures that children spend lots of time outside to develop their strength, coordination and agility.

Staff teach children how to climb, balance and jump, helping them to refine their movements. The school's well-planned curriculum for physical development means that children systematically gain the skills needed to pedal and steer the bicycles and tricycles in the outdoor area.

The school aims to instil resilience, perseverance, risk-taking, open-mindedness, kindness and independence in children.

However, occasionally, staff miss the chance to help children learn about these qualities when opportunities present themselves. There are many enrichment activities to teach children about the community they live in and the wider world. Children go on walks to visit the local church, park and allotments.

Personnel from the local police force and fire service visit the school to teach children how to stay safe. Children learn about celebrations and significant national and international events. As well as learning about special times for others, every child's special day is marked.

On their birthday, children get to make a cake with their friends and then share it with everyone in their class.

Staff are happy and feel well supported. They are very proud to work at the school.

They are unanimous in their praise for leaders. The school is well led. Governors are knowledgeable and passionate about the school.

They provide effective support and challenge.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• At times, staff do not teach the key words that are set out in the school's curriculum when there is a chance to do so.

On occasion, children do not benefit from high-quality interactions with staff. This means that some children do not consolidate and extend their communication and language skills as well as they might. The school must ensure that all staff consistently develop children's knowledge, skills and vocabulary through high-quality talk.