St Colmcille's Nursery School

Overview

St Colmcille’s Nursery School demonstrates a "high level of capacity for sustained improvement" with "very good" outcomes for learners and quality of provision. The inspection highlights a cohesive team delivering a stimulating, inclusive environment where children are well-settled, independent, and making strong progress in literacy, numeracy, and social skills.

Strengths

• Children engage enthusiastically in "purposeful and concentrated play" and display high levels of independence and confidence.
• Staff create a "stimulating learning environment" using a "very good range of real and natural resources."
• There is a "very effective link with the parents," who are actively involved through workshops and home learning packs.
• Children with additional needs are "very well supported" in an inclusive setting, making "very good progress."
• The school has achieved a third green Eco flag and shows strong governance and staff teamwork.

Areas to improve

• The planning for outdoor play "does not outline sufficiently the role of the adult."
• Individual education plans for children with additional needs "lack detail" regarding strengths and strategies.
• Some activities are "too adult led," missing opportunities for children to explore creativity and extend expressive language.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding "reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education," though the school needs to review a small number of policies to "reflect more accurately the practices within the nursery school."