A “warm and stimulating” Bristol nursery which gives youngsters a “deep level of understanding of mathematics” has received the highest praise from Ofsted. Mangotsfield Pre-School, which has up to 54 children aged two to five, was judged to be “outstanding” overall and in all categories.
A report by inspectors, who visited on July 6, said youngsters with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) made particularly good progress at the nursery based at Emersons Green Primary School in South Gloucestershire. It said: “All children positively thrive in this warm and stimulating pre-school.
“Staff are extremely caring and knowledgeable, and they meet all children's needs exceptionally well. Children explore and learn at their own pace as staff expertly offer support and challenge.
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“All children, especially those with SEND, make excellent progress, as there is an incredibly ambitious and well-planned curriculum. For example, as children make paper caterpillars to understand change, older children learn that paper contains molecules that can expand when wet, while younger children learn that paper changes when you add water to it.”
The report said youngsters felt “extremely safe and secure” and had a “can-do attitude”. It said: "They stay focused at activities for long periods of time as staff expertly offer challenge and help children to succeed..
“Children develop a love of books as staff expertly share stories throughout the day, encouraging children to recall and talk about what is happening. Children gain a deep level of understanding of mathematics.
“They use language for shape and size as they play, and they learn number symbols and quantities as they count out things they need for their play. Older children learn to use 'plus', 'minus' and 'equals' as they work out simple sums, and they consider how numbers change when they add or take away items.
“Younger children explore numbers one, two and three as they play with ducks in the water.” It said the pre-schoolers learned about the world by exploring insects in the wild garden and watching newts emerge from the pond and a fox family playing in a nearby field.
“Partnerships with parents are extremely effective,” the report added. “Parents feel their children are highly valued and supported.
“Staff expertly share children's learning and next steps regularly with parents. The manager is incredibly reflective and ambitious for all children.
“She goes above and beyond what is expected to ensure all children thrive and are ready for the next stage in life. She inspires her team to be the best it can be. She constantly finds ways to improve the pre-school to meet each child's needs.”
The private nursery has five members of staff and is open during term time only.
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