Portsmouth nursery rated as 'strong' by Ofsted as children reported to be 'thriving'
The nursery was lavishly praised by Ofsted inspectors.
A nursery has been praised by Ofsted inspectors for allowing children to ‘thrive’ in a safe and encouraging environment.
The Play Corner Hillside, a private nursery at the Hillside and Wymering Centre in Cheltenham Road, Wymering, was recently visited by the education watchdog for a routine inspection. Their report rated the nursery as being of a ‘strong’ standard, a result that is being celebrated by staff.
The nursery has 34 places for children between the ages of one and four.
In her report, Ofsted inspector Clare Leake said: “Staff are positive role models for children. They demonstrate respectful and friendly relationships with each other, as well as the children. They support children extremely well and encourage positive friendships between children.
“Leaders and staff prioritise children's welfare and wellbeing at all times. They work with parents to help support significant stages of development, such as weaning and toilet training.
“Staff provide consistent, high-quality care that meets all children's individual needs extremely well. Key persons work closely with parents to discuss children's care routines and stages of development and greatly encourage parents to spend time at the nursery. Staff ensure children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who face barriers to learning and those who are known, or previously known, to social care receive highly effective, targeted support.”
Above all, staff were praised for enabling children to ‘thrive’ in practical learning, with youngsters seen using tools to make things, and moulding dough.
“Children concentrate very well as they use tools, such as an Allen key, with impressive control, to manipulate screws into planks of wood,” Ms Leake added. “Staff ask children if they remember using tools before at the nursery. Children proudly recall how they recently used tools to help to build a bench for the nursery garden.
“Staff praise children as they work with control, and children smile in return. Staff excitedly encourage children to count how many turns it takes to secure a screw into wood, helping to promote their mathematical language. This activity helps children to build the muscles in their hands to help with early writing skills.”