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Aug 2024
'Very good role models’ praised at Harrogate nursery and pre-school
Children’s Corner Harrogate has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.
The findings were published in a report today, following an inspection in July. It was the first inspection since the site was registered in March 2022.
Children's Corner, which is based in Central House on Beckwith Knowle, admits children aged 0 to 4, was found to be ‘good’ in all four categories: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development and leadership and management.
Government inspectors said leaders and managers provide staff with a clear curriculum ethos and share their vision for children, which is to ensure children become "happy, independent learners".
The report found staff “carefully consider” the skills children need to progress in nursery and school, adding:
For example, staff who work with babies focus on developing their physical skills and encourage them to walk independently before they move on.
Toddlers are encouraged to develop this further as they begin to use climbing frames outdoors.
Inspectors also praised staff for concentrating on developing children’s physical skills, including “fastening buttons and zips".
Children were found to feel “safe and happy” at Children’s Corner, the report says, adding they have “close relationships with their key person and staff”.
The report also said staff are “very good role models for children”, and model positive behaviours and provide clear boundaries for the children. It added:
Children are keen to have a go at developing new skills and staff are always close by to help if needed. This helps to build children's self-confidence, and they benefit from the praise given.
The nursery opened following the pandemic. However, leaders and managers have considered the ongoing impact on children's personal, social and emotional development.
Children are encouraged to recognise and manage their feelings by using a range of different strategies, such as “happy boxes”, the report said.
Inspectors found staff have “high expectations” of children and “swiftly identify any areas of delay”.
Tailored learning plans are provided to “help close potential gaps” in children’s learning, they said, and praised the special education needs coordinator, who “knows children well”.
The report adds partnerships with families and other professionals are “positive”. It also found:
Staff share information with children's new teachers and invite them into the setting to help with their eventual move to school. This helps to provide a continued approach to children's learning. Parents leave positive feedback for the nursery.
They say that the communication from the staff is fantastic and that staff go above and beyond to support their children.
The leadership team was also found to be “strong and supportive” and was praised for reflecting on the impact of extra funding on children’s learning. Inspectors said this is used to “enhance areas where children prefer to learn, such as outdoors”.
Safeguarding is “effective”, the report says, adding there is an “open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first”.
Areas of improvement
The inspectors said children “show enjoyment” in activities in the nursery and outdoors.
However, they found that sometimes staff do not focus their teaching fully to engage children, which can lead to children wandering around the garden.
The report also said staff use books and mirrors with the pre-school children to “promote difference and diversity”. However, it adds during small circle times with toddlers, staff focus on children who are confident to answer, and those who are quieter “do not fully participate”.
Children’s Corner Children has seven sites, including Harrogate, across the north of England.
The Harrogate site has 58 places in total, but there are 81 children on the roll.
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