Ofsted: read the full report for Muriel Green Nursery School

Muriel Green Nursery School continues to be rated good after a visit from inspectors last month.

The education watchdog found that the school is a "happy and nurturing place to learn".

You can read the full report below.

What is it like to attend this school?

Muriel Green Nursery is a happy and nurturing place to learn. Children learn to become curious about the world around them through ‘discover’ and ‘do’ sessions. They question adults and each other to find out more. Children select equipment and engage in selfchosen activities with enthusiasm. They feel safe to take risks in their learning, such as jumping off a piece of equipment without help. This helps children to develop into confident, independent learners.

Children have positive relationships with adults. They trust adults to help them with their learning and their care. Children behave well. They know the rules and routines and follow these sensibly. They interact with each other with kindness and respect. Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to access the learning alongside their peers.  

Children enjoy stories and rhymes. They appreciate visitors from other cultures coming to read them stories. This also helps them to learn about different religions. Children learn about staying safe and being active. For example, they learn how to approach dogs during their morning ‘golden’ run. 

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better? 

The school has created a curriculum that enables children to develop their interest and curiosity. In most areas of learning, the school has set out clearly what children should learn. In these areas, children learn and use appropriate vocabulary. They secure their understanding of important knowledge. Staff know what children can do and what they need to develop further. In a few areas of learning, the school’s planning for what children should learn is less precise. As a result, staff do not routinely have a clear understanding of what to teach, resulting in children not securing important knowledge and vocabulary as well as they could.  

Developing children’s communication is at the centre of the curriculum. Staff ensure that this forms part of all learning activities. They encourage children to talk about what they experience. Staff are well trained. They know when to intervene and ask questions to deepen children’s learning. Staff support children with SEND to communicate. For example, through using signs and visual cues. Children listen attentively to staff and engage well in conversations. Staff follow children’s interests and model the language that they want children to use.  

Children are excited and interested in listening to stories. Staff foster this love of reading in children. There is a focus on using books to show children examples of real-life experiences. This includes, for example, going to the dentist and becoming a big brother or sister. Children actively seek out adults to read stories to them during independent learning. They enjoy the stories that staff read to them. This prepares them well for the next stage of learning and learning to read. 

Children enjoy attending school. The school works closely with parents to ensure attendance is a high priority. There are clear processes for families to report their child absent. This helps children and their families to develop positive attendance habits for the next stage of learning.  

Children participate in regular enrichment activities, such as local visits, cooking and snack time, where they learn to cut their own fruit. Lunchtime is well organised so that children can dine together as a ‘family’. This helps to develop further the positive relationships children have with each other. Children develop their self-care skills through serving their own food and pouring their own water. Children learn to develop a sense of belonging, through group activities.  

Governors understand their role well. They ensure staff have well-considered opportunities to develop professionally. Staff value the way leaders support them to improve their own subject knowledge. They are proud to work at the school. 

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.