ISLAND DAY NURSERY CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF A ‘GOOD’ OFSTED RATING

A Newport-based nursery has maintained its ‘Good’ Ofsted rating for the 15th consecutive year. The education watchdog visited The Island Day Nursery, in Newport, in February and saw the “happy and safe environment” management and staff create for children, “at the heart of the community it serves.” A recently published inspection report has highlighted the positives at the nursery, as well as the two things the setting needs to do to improve. One of those is to develop clearer links between what children need to learn and how activities are delivered, so they can be shaped to the individual learning needs of each child. Staff create a rich curriculum based around key areas, which ‘ignites’ children’s curiosity and leaders identify children who need further focus, but inspectors said teaching at times needs to be more precisely targeted to what children need to know. Inspectors also raised an issue which nursery management had recognised: The need to strengthen how professional development and opportunities for staff are used to enhance teaching skills — particularly around refining children’s speaking skills. Staff told inspectors they feel valued and respected in their roles and are well supported, working well together in the nursery team. Overall, staff know children well and take time to build relationships with their families and carers, inspectors said, and remarked that partnerships with parents are a ‘strength of the setting’. They said staff take the time to get to know children’s unique personalities, tailoring care to help children build confidence as they move through the nursery. Parents told inspectors staff are ‘amazing and know children’s unique needs well’. Children with special educational needs are supported well and staff teach all children kindness and respect in their day-to-day interactions. Inspectors said the manager is a strong leader, who shares her ambitions and vision with the staff and are all passionate about providing high-quality care for all children.