Plans approved to extend Harrogate pre-schoolRebranded Harrogate nursery to reopen next weekHarrogate pre-school receives ‘outstanding’ Ofsted ratingWellbeing ‘at the heart’ of village pre-school near Ripon, says Ofsted

A village pre-school near Ripon has been praised by Ofsted for creating “happy, confident and independent learners”.

Rating Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School ‘good’ in all areas, inspector Jane Mumby said children’s wellbeing was “at the heart” of the pre-school, where children “smile and laugh” all day.

In her report, she said:

“Children’s behaviour is exemplary. They work together to build, act out role-play scenarios and engage in joint tasks, such as building a tower.

“Children’s language and communication skills develop very well. Staff and children share conversations at every opportunity.

“Children with additional needs are supported well. Staff use their knowledge of child development to help children and families put strategies in place to help them to make good progress.”

The report, published at the end of last week, said staff worked together to monitor children’s learning and plan the next steps through “fun, relevant and interesting activities”.

Singing, telling stories and playing outside all formed part of the daily routine at the Grantley pre-school, the inspector found when she visited at the end of March.

She praised the manager’s enthusiasm and the way the staff worked together to offer the best experiences to children, adding:

“Parents say how pleased they are that their child can experience their early education sessions within the pre-school. They comment on how well the staff team know their child and how they go above and beyond to help them develop and learn.

“They feel that their children are safe and happy within the pre-school and are delighted that their children have had a positive early years experience.”

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Looking at areas for improvement, Ms Mumby said staff could offer more opportunity for children to be creative in their activities. She also recommended spending more time looking at diversity to help children understand modern Britain.

In response, Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School leader Dawn Rogers said staff were already working on ways to address the inspector’s recommendations, but that overall they were “thrilled” with the report.

Feedback from parents to the inspector had been excellent, she said, and highlighted the strong links between staff and families.

She added:

“A six year wait to have a visit from Ofsted is a long period of time. However, we ensure good practice in our setting at all times and are up to date with current legislation; so the staff looked forward to welcoming the inspector, sharing our good practice, expertise and knowledge. 

“The inspector was with us longer than she anticipated, but, we, the staff, being as enthusiastic about our setting as we are, we wanted to show her a range of things we do in our day to day sessions making the children’s learning fun and individual and we still had more to show her by the end of the day.

“We want to inspire and give each child in our care fun learning through play and promote learning for life. It is our role to provide the solid foundations and knowledge about the world around us so the children can build their future on the solid foundations we, at Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School, have given them.

“We have 17 children on our register which is our own little Fountains family and each individual and their families mean so much to us as a group.”

Ofsted rates Harrogate pre-school ‘outstanding’ for first time

“Passionate” staff and a “stimulating” environment combine to make Harrogate’s Performatots an ‘outstanding’ pre-school, according to Ofsted.

The latest report by the government’s inspectors praises the way the setting teaches children language and maths, as well as skills including food preparation and hygiene.

Performatots was inspected alongside Northern Performance Academy, a performing arts school that is part of the same business run by Kelly Nevett.

In a report published this week, Ofsted inspector Jo Clark said:

“Children show high levels of curiosity and a sense of wonder in their learning. For example, during a unique birthday walk children sing and celebrate the earth revolving around the sun for each year of a child’s birth.

“They celebrate the life of the child, as children and staff offer words of thanks and best wishes. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

“Children develop their emotional literacy through speech and drama classes in their wonderful theatre. Specialist drama teachers support children to identify feelings using coloured scarves. Children use a red scarf to depict an angry emotion.

“They skilfully use their words to explain their feelings. A child places a calm coloured scarf around the child and says, ‘I’ll protect you.’ Children learn to understand their emotions and develop a positive mental attitude.”

The report said children “showed tremendous levels of independence” such as when taking food for lunch and choosing their seats.

It said this made them “superbly prepared” for the next steps in their education.

Ms Clark’s report also said:

“Management and staff are inspirational in their vision for providing children with exceptional and unique learning experiences. They are dedicated in developing the skills and knowledge of all staff to ensure the best outcomes for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

“Partnership with parents is exceptional. Staff provide parents with the skills and knowledge to continue and extend their child’s learning and development at home.”

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The report did not give any suggestions for improvement, rating all four areas of education ‘outstanding’.

The new rating – a step up from the previous ‘good’ grading given in 2017 – has been welcomed by Performatots, based on Anchor Road.

Owner and principal Kelly Nevett  said:

“We are all absolutely over the moon to receive this recognition for Northern Performance Academy and especially our early years department of exceptionally passionate, talented teachers.

“We are a school that champions the power of the arts in education, shining a spotlight on the incredible way they bring learning to life and help young people to be confident, creative, curious and capable. We are thrilled that our unique, pioneering approach to the early years curriculum, was judged to be outstanding.

“Our glowing report has made many of our parents cry – for all the right reasons! It’s so reassuring for parents to know that their children are receiving the very best level of early education and care available to them. Who wouldn’t want their child to have an outstanding start to their life?”

Ms Nevett said the grading was particularly welcome after Ofsted changed its criteria in 2021, making the top rating harder to achieve.

While the inspection only took place on one day in February, she said it reflected much more than what was seen during that small window.

“It’s about the years and years prior to that moment of consistently analysing, evaluating and evolving in order to become the very best you can be. It’s a journey and it doesn’t just happen, so it’s about the blood, sweat and tears, the set-backs, the knocks, the sleepless nights, the juggling, the failures and the low points.

“We are where we are through sheer hard work, determination and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Despite receiving no recommendations for improvement from Ofsted, we have fostered a fantastic company culture and a vision to always be improving. I know we will continue to reflect, enhance and develop the amazing opportunities available here.”

Harrogate pre-school maintains ‘good’ Ofsted rating

A pre-school in Harrogate with just 10 children on the roll has maintained its ‘good’ rating from Ofsted.

St Joseph’s Pre-school and Playgroup on Skipton Road was praised by inspectors for the welcoming and supportive atmosphere it offered to children aged two to four.

As well as praising the pre-school’s use of outdoor space, support for children’s learning and communication with parents, the report said:

“Staff are good role models and interact positively with children. They give children plenty of praise and encouragement as they play. This helps children to develop a can-do attitude towards their learning.

“Children with special educational needs/and or disabilities (SEND) are extremely well supported.

“The special educational needs coordinator is swift to work in partnership with other professionals, in order to help children with SEND reach their full potential.”

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Inspectors recommended that staff could do more to help the most able pupils to develop further, and that more support could be in place for staff members’ professional development.

The pre-school, which can cater for up to 24 children over four mornings each week, was first registered in 1986. Its last inspection in 2016 also delivered a ‘good’ rating.

Bilton playgroup rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted

Ofsted has rated Acorns Playgroup in Bilton ‘outstanding’ following a recent inspection.

The education inspectors visited the setting, which operates at Bilton Grange Community Primary School on Bilton Lane, in February.

It has 30 children registered between the ages of 2 and 4.

Ofsted found that children “excitedly enter the safe and vibrant pre-school” and are “deeply engrossed in a limitless range of first-class activities and experiences”.

The report said:

“Children’s interests and ideas are at the heart of staff’s thinking when they implement the curriculum.”

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The inspector praised the playgroup for its safeguarding procedures and said staff give the “utmost priority” to keeping children safe.

It said staff have “very high aspirations” for all children and swiftly identify any possible developmental delays to help any child catch up. It said staff at Acorns have an “admiral passion and dedication” to their jobs.

The report added:

“Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour and play extremely well together. They solve problems while building impressive constructions, excitedly dig for ‘treasure’ in the large sand pit and make ‘Chinese noodles’ in the exploratory kitchen. Older children play a mathematical card game skilfully and ensure everyone plays fairly and follows the rules.”

Catherine Kaiser, director of Acorns, thanked staff following the report

She said:

“The staff here are fantastic, we’ve all worked really hard and the report reflects that. It’s our fourth ‘outstanding’ rating in a row. It really has been a team effort.”

Woodlands Kids Club

Earlier this month Woodlands Kids Club, at Willow Tree Primary School on Wetherby Road, received a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted.

Inspectors visited the setting on February 1 and praised staff for offering a welcoming and encouraging environment for young learners.

The report said:

“Staff know the children well and respond to their interests. They extend their learning as they play together. Children greet staff with huge smiles as they arrive at the end of the school day. They show a good sense of belonging as they excitedly talk about their day.

“They form meaningful relationships with the staff and follow instructions well. Staff use their knowledge and experience effectively to support those children who need additional help and encouragement. The strategies they use are highly effective.”

Scriven Park Pre-School fighting to stay open

Major concerns about the future of Scriven Park Pre-School have been raised after it continues to struggle to find additional finances to stay open.

The Knaresborough pre-school, next to Meadowside Academy, currently has 16 children but says it needs more children and staff to keep running.

The pre-school runs as a charity with a committee, in the past two weeks it has elected a new committee in the hopes of making it financially stable again.

The new co-chair, Hayley Fiorentino, said the pre-school can reopen in January but the next three to six months were critical.

As a charity-run facility the centre relies on fundraising and funding from the county council. It gets £4.05 per hour for each child that is there on council funding.

This money goes towards the wages of four staff and bills but Ms Fiorentino said that the committee is desperate for more fundraising. She said:

“My son loves going there and when I found out how much trouble it was in I had to step up. As a student nurse, I can’t afford to send my son anywhere else so I had to do my bit to keep it open.

“We need to claw it back. It used to hold events like summer fayres and bingo nights but covid has hit us hard.”

Ms Fiorentino said since a social media plea for help last week, the charity had been approached by other charities and nurseries locally offering help to run the centre efficiently.

It was also due to meet with a local town councillor in the coming week to discuss potential funding opportunities.

She added:

“We need to everything we can so if it doesn’t work we can say we did all we could.”

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New centre manager, Leanne Holdworth, took on the position in October and said it has been a struggle but she hopes there is now light at the end of the tunnel.

She said her and the other staff were determined to remain open for the children and hope the new committee can look into funding available to them:

“We’re struggling massively, we get funding from the county council but this instantly goes on wages and bills. It’s not enough. Now we are at a point where we can’t even be sure of the future.

“Lots of parents have chosen to keep their kids at home during covid which has impacted us massively. Now I’m left with a ship that’s about the sink.”

The pre-school is set to welcome three new-starters in January and hopes if it can hire more staff it can take on more.

It also thanked local residents who had dropped off donations of toys and books allowing them to save money. Any further donations can be given here.

Pannal prepares for first scarecrow harvest festival

Characters of all shapes and sizes will line the streets of Pannal and Burn Bridge this weekend as part of the first ever Scarecrow Harvest Festival.

It has been set up by St Robert’s Church in Pannal, in place of its usual harvest festival, to raise money for Harrogate District Foodbank.

More than 60 scarecrows have been entered by local families and individuals, as well as Burn Bridge and Busy Bees pre-schools, Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council, and Pannal Methodist Church.

A map of all the locations, covering as far as Walton Park to the south and Beckwith Road in the north, has been put together by organisers Chloe Darcy and Stephanie Cave. They have uploaded it to the St Robert’s Church website, along with a voting sheet and photos of all the entries so far.

Chloe said:

“People have been so keen. We thought we would run with it but you’re never sure what the response will be. It has been really positive. It’s a bit of fun and everyone can get involved – even those who are shielding because we’re putting all the photos online so people can vote.”

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Entries so far include clowns, nurses, farmers, Minecraft, cartoon characters – and even scarecrows of Pannal School teachers. Each entrant has donated £5 and people taking part are also encouraged to give what they can via the fundraising page.

Chloe added:

“There would normally be a harvest festival and Pannal School would put on harvest services and bring the children to St Robert’s. We can’t collect donations of food this year, so we’re hoping to raise money for the foodbank instead.”

More than £750 has already been donated by the community before the trail has even been launched. The event runs from 9am on Saturday, October 10 until 4pm on Sunday, October 11.

Votes for the best scarecrow will be counted next week, with the winners announced on Sunday, October 18. First, second and third places will be awarded rosettes and prize money.