A nursery in Ripon has been praised for the sense of joy it creates in its children.
In a report published this week, Ofsted said Stepping Stones in Blossomgate offered “purposeful” activities and helped children to become more independent.
Rating the setting ‘good’, inspector Jen Lyons said:
“Lively, interesting and purposeful activities filtrate the rooms, giving a sense of joy and happiness for the children and staff at this nursery.
“Children are settled and happy attending and have built strong attachments with their key workers and other staff. Children are focused and engaged in carefully planned activities built around their interests and next steps.
“Joyful songs are heard throughout the day and children’s faces light up during group singing sessions. Babies learn about jungle animals, exploring different textures through making animal footprints in play dough.
“Children experience moments of awe and wonder, such as while using shakers and playing with glittery water in the baby room. This effectively supports the development of children’s emotional well-being.”
The inspection, which took place in February, found staff helped children to develop their understanding in key areas of the curriculum.
Indoor activities, such as learning the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, were followed by imaginative play outside when the children pretended to be characters from the fairytale.
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Ms Lyons said the nursery’s approach of making learning enjoyable helped children to engage and make good progress.
She added:
“Children with special educational and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff are quick to spot the signs of children not meeting relevant milestones.
“These children make good progress from their starting points as staff know how best to support them. Parents are kept well informed of their progress and are happy with their learning and development.”
Looking at areas for improvement, the report recommended the nursery should ensure consistent teaching about personal care, such as washing hands before meals.
Stepping Stones manager Clare Brigantes said she was pleased with the latest Ofsted report and that the recommended improvement was already in place.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“Normally, you feel on edge about an Ofsted inspection, but she was very friendly and made everyone feel at ease.
“The day just flowed and it was really nice – the staff were able to answer her questions and the children were having a really good day.
“The inspector asked us to get emails from parents about their experiences. Some of them made me cry.
“They say thank you when they’re picking up and we get Christmas cards and things, but it’s lovely to hear their experiences and how they really feel about what we offer.”