Chapel Street Nursery School

Overview

Chapel Street Nursery School continues to be a good school, where children settle quickly and feel part of a supportive community. Staff are described as “friendly and caring,” fostering an environment where children feel safe through “clear, consistent routines and expectations.” The school places a high priority on developing language skills and provides effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• Children are encouraged to be independent, with adults prompting them to “‘have a go’” and try new activities such as woodwork and tasting fruits.
• Leaders have established “effective systems” to identify children with SEND, working closely with parents and providing “bespoke support” to ensure progress.
• Staff skilfully include children with SEND in activities alongside peers, while also offering targeted sessions to develop listening and language skills.
• The curriculum includes enriching experiences, such as watching caterpillars develop into butterflies, which prompt “moments of wonder” and help children learn about diversity.
• Staff feel that leaders are “considerate of their well-being and workloads,” and governors provide “effective support and challenge.”

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, leaders have not clearly defined the sequence of knowledge, leaving too much to adult expertise; consequently, some children develop “gaps in their learning or misconceptions.”
• Leaders must ensure all adults are clear about what pupils are to learn and how this will be achieved in both continuous provision and taught sessions.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture in place where all adults are trained, concerns are recorded promptly, and necessary checks are carried out.