A NURSERY for pre-school children has been given Ofsted’s highest possible rating, just weeks after its sister setting received the same verdict.
The education regulator said Great Expectations nursery for two to five-year-old children, in Baugh Gardens, Bromley Heath, is ‘outstanding’ in all areas – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.
The nursery, which has 76 children on its roll and 15 staff, was last inspected six years ago, when it received a ‘good’ rating.
Inspector Vicky Burns said: “All children flourish and thrive in this outstanding setting.
“From the moment children arrive, they are immersed in rich experiences that motivate and inspire them to learn.
“Children make exceptional progress due to nurturing staff, who have consistently high expectations for them.
“Children show high levels of pride in their work and respond very positively to praise from staff.”
The inspector praised the nursery’s “passionate and highly knowledgeable” management team, “excellent” partnerships with parents and staff who “are wonderful role models”.
She said: “Management and staff have thought carefully about the highly ambitious curriculum they offer. It reflects all children’s individual needs and interests.
“Staff adapt their teaching incredibly well and know how to strengthen the curriculum.
“They carefully plan children’s next steps in development and use routines as opportunities for children to succeed.”
The report said “unique enhancements” to the curriculum, including forest school, art and cooking, ensure children make rapid progress and are prepared “outstandingly well for their next stage of learning and school”.
Children with special educational needs or disabilities make “exceptional progress”.
The inspector said youngsters showed “tremendous levels of independence”, fostered by activities including preparing snacks, washing up and taking care of an allotment, where they water the plants, which help them “develop essential skills”.
Ofsted’s visit in June came about six weeks after the regulator visited Great Expectations’ provision for children aged two and under, in neighbouring Baugh Road, which also received an ‘outstanding’ rating.
Great Expectations owner Jo Scott said: “We are so proud of the dedication, passion and commitment our team show everyday.
“Over the last few years we have worked hard to refine our child-led, enquiry-driven curriculum whilst nurturing each unique child, and it was lovely to see that Ofsted recognised this.
“It really is a privilege to do the job we do.”