A NURSERY’S confident children and dedicated staff have been praised by an inspector.
Ofsted visited Muddy Puddles Day Nursery and Preschool in Blackhorse Road in October.
Inspector Rachel Howell’s report said the nursery, which has 27 children aged from one to four on its roll, is ‘good’ in all areas – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.
She praised the way staff encourage children to be independent and do things for themselves, helping them to grow in confidence and show “very good skills for their age”.
The inspector said: “Staff support children to tackle challenges and have a go, offering them lots of encouragement and praise, building children’s confidence effectively.
“Managers show considerable dedication to providing the best they can for the families that use their setting.”
The inspector said the nursery worked with parents and outside professionals to make sure all children achieve their potential.
She said: “Parents are complimentary and extremely appreciative of the advice and support they receive.
“They say staff go above and beyond what is expected and work tirelessly to help them and support their children.”
The report highlighted work to help children develop maths skills through activities including bingo games and the use of a variety of materials to develop creativity.
Activities including climbing, obstacle courses and ball games help children develop coordination and strength, with children learning to share and play together.
The inspector said: “Staff focus on building children’s skills as they play and explore.
“They get down to children’s level, listening to them, encouraging their speech and conversation, and offering useful words and explanations to extend their communication.”
The visit was Ofsted’s second since the nursery opened in 2017, and its first since the pandemic.
To improve further the inspector recommended staff adapt support during routines and group activities, and build more on children’s ideas to further develop their learning.
Nursery owner Sam Vitale said: “We felt the inspector really did capture what we’re striving to achieve every day with the children, for them to feel happy, build their confidence and resilience.
“We’re really proud of our staff and children, and grateful to them and our parents as well.”