Amanda Martin MP full of praise for Portsmouth nursery Little Thinkers following Ofsted report
The nursery was assessed over the summer
A growing nursery in Portsmouth was delighted to welcome Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North to visit their children and staff, following an glowing report from Ofsted in the summer.
Little Thinkers nursery at New Horizons School, on Portchester Road in North End, Portsmouth, hosted Amanda as she toured their bright, engaging spaces, and met with children and staff. It followed a personal request from Amanda to visit the nursery, after seeing their positive Ofsted outcome earlier this year, which noted children 'show enjoyment and thrive'.
During the visit, the Little Thinkers team expressed their pride in supporting children's development and wellbeing, while Amanda joined children as they played. The morning provided an opportunity to showcase the ambitious approach which sits at the heart of a Little Thinkers nursery, where children are encouraged to develop a lifelong love for learning.
Farran Harvey, Nursery Manager of Little Thinkers at New Horizons, was delighted to showcase the significant journey of improvement her team have been on:
"It was wonderful to welcome Amanda Martin MP to our nursery this morning and seeing her so engaged with children at play was lovely.
"We're incredibly proud of the recognition from Ofsted which reflects the enthusiasm of our children and the dedication of our staff".
Little Thinkers are a registered charity who are a small family of nurseries committed to ensuring children have wonderous experiences and can explore through play, so that they become confident, resilient individuals. Part of Thinking Schools Academy Trust, the nurseries adopt a 'curiosity approach' to learning, where children use everyday items such as toys in imaginative ways.
Sonia Nickerson, Strategic Trustee for Little Thinkers, leads on Thinking Schools Academy Trust's vision for their early year curriculum. She reflected on the wider impact of having Amanda visit the setting in North End this morning.
"We were delighted Amanda took the time to visit us today following our recent Ofsted inspection. Today is particularly special because this setting is where it all started. What started as one nursery with a commitment to high-quality care and education has grown into a family of seven, who proudly serve their children and communities.
"I'd like to thank our nursery leadership team, our practitioners, our families and everyone behind-the-scenes. The chance to proudly celebrate this nursery with Amanda would not have been possible without all of you".
Amanda was particularly impressed with the individuality of each room and how every child at the nursery is 'recognised as an individual':
"It's great to come to a real community nursery and I'm so proud that it's part of my city. This is about the people that deliver for our community, and the staff here really have that inclusive ethos.
"It's a real option for not only young people to learn social and emotional development skills but also for parents to be able to go to work without having the funding costs associated with childcare before their children go to school".
Little Thinkers at New Horizons have a limited number of fully funded spaces available for two-year-olds and three-year-olds. Parents and carers in Portsmouth who are exploring childcare options are welcome to make an enquiry to the nursery via this link. The team can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by phone on 0333 3602261.