Vanessa Nursery School

Overview

Vanessa Nursery School continues to be judged as an outstanding school. The report describes it as a "wonderful, happy place, where children flourish," noting that parents and carers share how keen their children are to attend. Leaders maintain high expectations for social, emotional, and academic achievement, ensuring children are "exceptionally well prepared to start primary school."

Strengths

• Leaders have created an "ambitious curriculum, with clear end points," such as baking bread, and provide additional support if any child falls behind.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive "exemplary support," with staff highly skilled at identifying needs and working with external specialists.
• Staff are "adept at modelling precise language" to support vocabulary, helping children sequence concepts like the life cycle of a butterfly accurately.
• The school fosters independence and resilience; children learn to dress themselves, serve their own food, and tidy up without interrupting learning.
• Staff report feeling happy and valued, noting that leaders consider their "well-being and workload when making decisions."

Areas to improve

The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with robust processes, regular training, and detailed record-keeping ensuring staff can spot when children are upset and keep them safe.