Dulwich Wood Nursery School

Overview

Dulwich Wood Nursery School provides a “nurturing and purposeful” environment where children make “secure progress” from their individual starting points. The report highlights a “calm, orderly and nurturing” setting where staff effectively support emotional literacy, communication, and early academic foundations. Leaders demonstrate a “clear focus” on inclusion and behaviour, ensuring all children, including those with additional needs, are well-prepared for Reception.

Strengths

• Children achieve well in communication and language, with a “focused emphasis” leading to clear gains in vocabulary and confidence.
• Inclusion is “embedded in daily practice,” with tailored support and strategic use of funding helping disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs thrive.
• Staff model “empathy” and use “emotion coaching” to help children resolve conflict constructively and understand their feelings.
• Attendance is improving due to proactive leadership, including home visits and supportive follow-ups with families.
• The curriculum is “carefully designed” with logical progression, incorporating local visits and cultural celebrations to broaden children’s understanding.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should “sustain the high-quality provision already in place” and ensure ongoing curriculum review maintains strong practice.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and concerns are actively identified and managed.