Nursery's fortunes on the rise

Ambrose Day Nursery in Westleigh has now been rated “good” in all areas by Ofsted, who praised the staff and children.

It follows a June inspection when it was given the lower score of “requires improvement”, amid concerns about the way staff were deployed and the play equipment available for children.

In the new report, inspector Karen Cox wrote: “The manager and staff have worked hard to ensure that actions raised at the last inspection have been addressed. Thorough self-evaluation is undertaken and subsequent action plans for improvement are precise and purposeful.

“Furthermore, the manager has worked enthusiastically with the local authority to bring about instrumental changes to the provision.”

She found the quality of teaching to be “good”, with staff “skilfully” following children’s interests in play and offering further challenges to help their learning. Staff made “accurate observations” of children’s learning and development, talked “knowledgeably and fondly” about children and were “good role models”.

Partnerships with parents were described as “good” and staff used various methods, including daily diaries and regular parents’ evenings, to communicate with them. Children made “good progress” ready for starting school, formed “close attachments” with staff, behaved well and ate healthily.

Nursery manager Joanne Waywell welcomed the new report, saying: “We are all really happy. All the staff have worked really hard over the past nine months.”

She said people had been “shocked” by the previous report but parents had been “really supportive and positive”. Mrs Waywell said changes had been made, including staff training and an updated outdoor play area, to which parents and staff contributed.