Muriel Green Nursery School

Inspection of Muriel Green Nursery School Church Crescent, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 5JB

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

p.1

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this nurturing and rich learning environment. Home visits enable the relationships between children and their key person to begin from the outset. These visits allow staff to get to know children exceptionally well. Staff build on children's emotional security as they welcome them warmly and have toys and activities available that they know children enjoy. This helps all children to feel completely safe and secure. They display exceptionally high levels of well-being and become deeply involved in their play. Children demonstrate immense pride in their achievements. Babies give themselves a clap and older children excitedly proclaim, 'I did it,' when they successfully complete a task.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Leaders and staff plan and implement an inspirational curriculum that is built around the needs of each child. All staff receive specific support that enables them to fully understand and successfully deliver the curriculum intentions to their group of children. Predictable routines are introduced in the baby room and built on throughout the nursery. For example, every child knows to stop and listen when they hear staff say 'stop, look, listen'. Staff consistently model respect to the children and to each other. These expectations are extremely well embedded throughout the nursery. This contributes to children learning how to respect others and displaying exemplary behaviour.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff create an environment where all children consistently receive high-quality learning experiences. They provide children with numerous opportunities to extend their knowledge and skills, such as counting, weighing and mark making. This increases children's understanding of mathematics and literacy, and supports their ongoing development. Children make excellent progress as they learn in the moment and prepare for the next stage of their education. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported by passionate and experienced staff. Children with SEND have targeted next steps in learning in place, which are developed alongside parents and other specialists, such as physiotherapists. This ensures that all children receive the highest standard of teaching, which is adapted to their level of learning. n Partnerships with parents are excellent. Parents give the utmost praise for the

p.2

need to do better?

staff. They feel extremely involved and very well informed about their children's learning. Parents state that children are highly supported to settle and feel secure. They develop strong emotional attachments to their key person. Parents state their children are thriving and are making excellent progress. Staff provide resources for parents to build on their children's learning at home. For example, parents can borrow carefully curated book bags. These are regularly made to help children with particular situations, such as having a new baby in the home.

p.2

need to do better?

9 October 2024 n Children demonstrate highly positive attitudes to learning. They remain engaged in their activities for long periods. Outdoor learning is given the highest priority. The garden area is a superb learning environment, where children deeply immerse themselves in play and exploration. Staff support this by consistently noticing and acting on moments where they can extend children's learning. This increases children's motivation to learn more about the subject they are interested in. Children confidently ask questions and try hard to work things out for themselves. They use carefully placed books to find out more information or to enjoy stories with an adult. n Children developing strong communication and language skills is a key focus area for staff. They support children who are developing their early language skills to learn how to use sign language, alongside hearing clear, simple words

p.2

need to do better?

and sentences. Older children engage in conversation and discussion with adults and each other. Their use of vocabulary, expression and intonation is excellent. n The management team is extremely strong and dedicated to its role. The team demonstrates a very strong drive to continually enhance the nursery, taking account of the views of staff, parents and children. Staff are supported exceptionally well through a continuous cycle of highly effective supervision and training opportunities. This helps them to continually improve their already very strong practice. Staff state that they feel highly supported by the managers, who care about their well-being and listen to their ideas.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY225164 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10354992 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 63

p.4

Name of registered person

The Governing Body of Muriel Green Nursery and Pre-School

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01727 891 109 Date of previous inspection 14 November 2018

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Muriel Green Nursery School registered in 2001. There are currently 19 members of childcare staff employed across the nursery school and day care. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, and five hold qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 49 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.45am to 6.15pm. The nursery provides funded early education for children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector had a tour of the premises with the manager and discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector spoke with parents, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She completed a joint observation with the manager. n The manager, nursery school head and the inspector met to discuss the leadership and management of the setting. The inspector looked at relevant documents, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on staff, and safeguarding and complaints procedures.

p.5

Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

p.5

Inspection activities

9 October 2024 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6