The official education watchdog Ofsted has given a nursery for two to four-year-olds an outstanding rating – the top grade – in its latest inspection report.
Church Lane Nursery, in St Michael’s Church Hall, Southwick, has about 40 children on its books and those running the nursery said that they were proud of the official verdict.
At its previous inspection six years ago, the nursery was rated good. Its most recent inspection took place last month, with the report published in the past fortnight.
The report said: “The provision is outstanding. Children thrive and make superb progress at this nurturing nursery.
“Leaders and staff work incredibly hard to foster excellent relationships with children and their families. As a result, staff know all children exceptionally well. They know their unique personalities, ways in which they learn best and their ever-changing curiosities.
“Children’s immediate interests are thoughtfully woven through the broad variety of stimulating activities they enjoy each day. Staff plan these with precision and are eager to engage children.
“Consequently, children swiftly delve into activities and play experiences with excitement and enthusiasm. They become engrossed in learning that is continuously extended by skilful staff.
“The interactions children receive are of exceptional high quality. Staff work hard to create bespoke learning pathways for individual children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). All children flourish as they make remarkable progress.
“Staff are consistently positive role models for all children. This contributes to children’s exemplary behaviour.
“They learn this from watching and listening to staff who provide an abundance of praise, encouragement and support when something is challenging to children. Children’s faces light up with pride when they achieve new skills.
“Leaders, alongside their staff team, are passionate about the care and learning experiences every child receives. They plan and implement a highly ambitious and well-balanced curriculum.
“Staff’s knowledge of children’s development is faultless. They know what skills children have already learned, what they want to teach children next and why.
“As a result, children access a rich set of experiences that support them to continually build on their existing knowledge. For instance, children are in awe as they create their own science experiments.
“They explore the reaction between bicarbonate of soda and paint containing vinegar. Children are captivated, and staff bring learning to life as they teach children ambitious new words in context, such as acid and alkaline.
“Children’s communication skills are constantly considered and enhanced. Staff communicate with children incredibly well using a range of communication and language strategies. For example, staff use Makaton consistently alongside verbal communication and other visual aids.
“Consequently, all children, including those who are being supported to develop their spoken language, are skilled in communication.
“They confidently express their own needs, wants and ideas. This ensures that all children are exceptionally confident communicators in a multitude of ways.
“Leaders provide excellent support, training and coaching for staff. Staff report their wellbeing is exceptionally well supported.
“Leaders focus on developing highly motivated and skilled staff through effective support and proactive team reflection. This ensures that the provision continually strives to improve its high-quality care and education.
“Children with SEND receive the highly targeted support they need. Staff understand the importance of creating an inclusive and dynamic environment that is reflective of all children.
“They use their knowledge of each child to put personalised strategies and plans in place. Staff work in collaboration with external professionals as well as parents remarkably well. Consequently, children with SEND make excellent progress.
“Children’s health is given the utmost priority. Staff work with parents to teach children about being healthy and to look after their teeth.
“They seek opportunities to teach children about healthy foods, the effects on their bodies and where foods come from. For instance, children delight in exploring their own farm shop following a recent trip to the local greengrocers.
“Children delight in selecting their own real fruits and vegetables. They use their imagination to buy them from the shopkeepers. They help staff create price tags and weigh their items.
“In addition, staff spark discussions between children as they talk about healthy and unhealthy foods. Children confidently recall how they brush their teeth at nursery to help them stay healthy.
“Staff provide an abundance of opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. Children delight in climbing, negotiating space and balancing. This supports their core muscle development.
“In addition, children have opportunities to develop their small-muscle skills in a variety of ways. For instance, they excitedly make and explore play dough and learn to use scissors competently.
“These activities support children’s small-muscle development and dexterity in preparation for early writing.
“All staff understand the importance of highly successful partnerships with families. They ensure parents and carers are kept up to date and receive any guidance or support needed.
“Parents report fondly of the staff team and how they and their children are treated as individuals. They report an inclusive and tailored approach to individual families that is very much valued.”
Ofsted added: “Church Lane Nursery registered in 2017. It operates from a church hall in Southwick. The nursery is open from 8.45am to 3pm, each weekday. It operates during term-time only.
“There are nine members of staff who work at the nursery, of whom all hold relevant childcare qualifications.”
The nursery was inspected for the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management – and was graded outstanding in all four categories. It also received an overall rating of outstanding.
