Huntingdon Federation Nursery School

Overview

Huntingdon Nursery School is judged as ‘Good’ overall, with ‘Outstanding’ behaviour and attitudes. The report describes a welcoming environment where children feel safe, valued, and quickly settle into routines. Leaders are currently updating the curriculum to better tailor learning to individual needs, though some development is still ongoing.

Strengths

• Children demonstrate “exceptional attitudes to learning” and “collaborative behaviours which are impressive for their age,” with disruption being “extremely rare.”
• Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a strength, with “sharp focus on setting specific targets” and well-trained staff ensuring these children “achieve well.”
• Adults engage in “purposeful conversations,” encouraging children to use “ambitious vocabulary” and develop early mathematical concepts through daily practice.
• The school fosters a strong sense of belonging, with children enjoying social routines like snack time and feeling “safe to express their thoughts and feelings.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must complete curriculum updates so all staff know the “precise knowledge children need to learn at each stage,” particularly in understanding the world and expressive art and design.
• Staff interactions need to be more precise to ensure learning opportunities are “maximised” and extend children’s understanding, as some gaps are not currently addressed effectively.
• Governors need to source support to fulfil their statutory duties more effectively, specifically in “holding leaders to account” and monitoring safeguarding with “sufficient rigor.”

Safeguarding

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