St Margaret's Nursery School

Overview

St Margaret’s Nursery School continues to be an outstanding school. Children are described as “happy, safe and settled” and they “flourish” within a “delightful space to learn in.” The provision is characterised by a “highly ambitious and exciting” curriculum that maximises learning both indoors and out.

Strengths

• Staff build “strong bonds with children” and are “highly responsive to individual needs,” nurturing confidence to explore and take risks.
• The school is “truly inclusive,” with support for children needing extra help being “highly effective” in helping them access the same learning opportunities as peers.
• Leaders have developed a curriculum organised around three simple concepts, ensuring children “practise and embed small steps of learning” through daily reflection and adapted play.
• Developing vocabulary is a priority in a “language-rich environment,” where staff skillfully weave communication skills through all areas of learning, including a “nurture story” approach for those with special educational needs.
• Parents are “highly appreciative” of the offer, particularly valuing that staff are focused on children being “safe and learning well.”

Areas to improve

The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders ensuring it is an “ongoing priority” and staff being proactive in identifying and reporting concerns while working effectively with external agencies.