Top Ofsted rating for outstanding Chichester nursery

Outstanding teaching and children with a “thirst for learning” have helped an ‘up to threes’ nursery achieve Ofsted’s top rating.
ks1500501-1 Chi Nursery Ofsted phot kate
Members of Chichester Nursery School at the Children and Family Centre who received an outstanding Ofsted report.ks1500501-1 SUS-150610-181349008ks1500501-1 Chi Nursery Ofsted phot kate
Members of Chichester Nursery School at the Children and Family Centre who received an outstanding Ofsted report.ks1500501-1 SUS-150610-181349008
ks1500501-1 Chi Nursery Ofsted phot kate Members of Chichester Nursery School at the Children and Family Centre who received an outstanding Ofsted report.ks1500501-1 SUS-150610-181349008

The group, part of the Chichester Nursery School, Children and Family Centre, in St James Road, was visited by inspector Jo Caswell on September 9 and her findings were published on September 26.

Giving the nursery an ‘outstanding’ rating, Ms Caswell wrote in her report: “Children thoroughly enjoy their day at nursery and arrive enthusiastically and ready to learn. Staff plan an exceptional range of activities both inside and outside, and are highly skilled in responding to children’s spontaneous ideas.”

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The ‘up to threes’ group, which was rated ‘requires improvement’ at its last inspection in November, was one of the first to be inspected under Ofsted’s new Common Inspection Framework.

ks1500501-2 Chi Nursery Ofsted phot kate
Jenny Buckley, headteacher and head of centre, and Lucy Gale, the up to 3's nursery co-ordinator, and members of Chichester Nursery School at the Children and Family Centre who received an outstanding Ofsted report.ks1500501-2 SUS-150610-181337008ks1500501-2 Chi Nursery Ofsted phot kate
Jenny Buckley, headteacher and head of centre, and Lucy Gale, the up to 3's nursery co-ordinator, and members of Chichester Nursery School at the Children and Family Centre who received an outstanding Ofsted report.ks1500501-2 SUS-150610-181337008
ks1500501-2 Chi Nursery Ofsted phot kate Jenny Buckley, headteacher and head of centre, and Lucy Gale, the up to 3's nursery co-ordinator, and members of Chichester Nursery School at the Children and Family Centre who received an outstanding Ofsted report.ks1500501-2 SUS-150610-181337008

Jenny Buckley, headteacher and head of centre, said: “We’ve had a long history of being outstanding. We were very pleased with the fact we were outstanding in every single area.

“It’s real recognition of the fact the team worked so hard to get this judgement. It’s a sign of everyone’s commitment and passion for looking after young children and their education.”

Those efforts were recognised in Ms Caswell’s report, which stated: “The expertise of the staff team means children benefit from exceptional support in their learning and development. Consequently, they are very well prepared for starting school.”

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Ms Caswell said the “extremely warm and caring relationships between all children and staff” had seen the youngsters flourish. That relationship encompassed parents as well, with some describing the nursery and its staff as “amazing”, while another said: “I wouldn’t want to change a thing.”

When it came to the progress of children who joined the nursery with skills below those expected for their age, Ms Caswell praised the “intensive support” which had seen them make rapid progress to quickly catch up with their peers.

She noted: “Meticulous planning is now in place to ensure that boys’ learning needs continue to be planned for to ensure they always achieve as well as girls.”

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