St Philips Marsh Nursery School and Barton Hill Childrens Centre/Cashmore Early Years Centre

Overview

St Philips Marsh Nursery School and Barton Hill Childrens Centre/Cashmore Early Years Centre continues to be a good school. The report describes an environment where "happy smiling children are the norm" who feel safe and are keen to attend. Leaders provide a "rich and broad curriculum" that effectively supports children’s development, with parents being "universally positive" about their children’s experience.

Strengths

• Staff provide "caring support" and help children build "confidence and independence" through a well-structured curriculum.
• Leaders successfully address learning gaps, ensuring children who start behind "mostly catch up" through precise support.
• There is a strong focus on early language development, with staff training helping to "extend children’s speaking skills."
• Identification and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "strong," with most staff skilled in implementing individualised plans.
• The school enriches learning through activities like garden visits, a "micro-library," and "kitchen time" to promote healthy eating.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure teaching is "shaped precisely to meet children’s needs," particularly regarding child-to-child interactions.
• Staff need to consistently facilitate opportunities for children to speak in sentences and practice new concepts, as some currently play silently when capable of more.
• Teaching must focus more rigorously on the "essential knowledge that children need to know next" for all pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff training up to date and leaders demonstrating "tenacity" and being "relentless in following up on concerns."