Ashgate Nursery School

Overview

The school is in special measures because it is "failing to provide an acceptable standard of education" and leaders lack the capacity to secure improvement. While acting leaders have introduced an "ambitious, logically ordered curriculum" and there are "early, positive signs of improvement," significant weaknesses in teaching, behaviour, and achievement remain.

Strengths

• Acting leaders have designed a curriculum aimed at building children’s "readiness for the next stage of their learning."
• Staff are described as "kind" and "interested in children," with some successfully supporting those with special educational needs.
• Attendance has improved due to "high expectations" and "productive work with parents and carers."
• The interim governance board demonstrates "determination to help the school to improve."

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure teaching secures "essential foundational knowledge" so children are ready for primary school.
• Staff must help children manage their own behaviour, as many currently "lack self-discipline" and show "poor attitudes to learning."
• The school must build internal leadership capacity to reduce reliance on "outside help."

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.