Stanhope Street Nursery School

Overview

Stanhope Street Nursery School demonstrates a "high level of capacity for sustained improvement" with "Outstanding" outcomes for learners and "Very good" quality of provision. The inspection highlights a positive, child-centred environment where children make significant progress, supported by strong teamwork and reflective leadership.

Strengths

• Children engage in "purposeful and focused play" and produce work of a "high standard for their age and stage of development".
• Staff know the children "very well" and maintain "very good" interactions, building effectively on personal interests and experiences.
• The learning environment is "attractive and organised", providing valuable opportunities for collaborative play across the curriculum.
• Leadership promotes "very good teamwork" and a "shared vision", with a culture of "continuous improvement".
• Parents and staff provided "highly positive" feedback, praising the "caring approachable staff" and "strong sense of team spirit".

Areas to improve

• Review aspects of the snack routine to ensure "more progressive opportunities to promote learning during the routine".
• Include natural and authentic items in play areas on a "wider and more regular basis" to enhance learning opportunities.
• Address the "lack of time afforded to allow the principal to carry out the necessary duties of a teaching principal".

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements "reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education" but requires a review of child protection policies to ensure they "reflect more fully the most recent guidance" and that all governors attend necessary training.