Crossens Nursery School

Overview

Crossens Nursery School is described as a “welcoming and nurturing” environment where children are “happy” and form “trusting bonds” with staff. The report highlights that most children achieve well and move on to primary schools “ready for the next stage of their learning,” supported by high expectations and effective identification of additional needs.

Strengths

• Children are “loved and cherished” and behave “sensibly,” showing they are “polite and well mannered.”
• Staff successfully support children’s communication and language development, making story time “interesting” and providing “focused support” for those at risk.
• The school effectively identifies children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), using assessments to “adapt their delivery of the curriculum.”
• Children engage enthusiastically in creative activities and community projects, such as “litter picking” and visiting local facilities, which extends their learning beyond the nursery.
• Governors provide “valuable support and challenge” and demonstrate a “strong sense of purpose” to bring about positive outcomes.

Areas to improve

• The school must clarify the “key foundational knowledge” in some areas of learning, as staff currently struggle to prioritise essential information when designing activities.
• Staff need better support to “identify and address any gaps in key knowledge,” ensuring all children are well prepared for the next stage of education.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”