Wise Owls Nursery School

Inspection of Wise Owls Nursery School 15 Park Crescent Place, Brighton BN2 3HF

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are excited to arrive at this friendly nursery. Staff warmly greet them and demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting their emotional well-being. For example, staff offer bespoke settling-in sessions that are tailored to each family's needs. Staff work hard to ensure that they build up strong bonds with children and babies. Parents appreciate home visits and staff finding out more about children's lives before they start at the nursery. This helps children to feel comfort when away from a parent for the first time. Older children quickly learn the names of the staff, and babies reach out for a cuddle from their familiar key person.

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The provision is good

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make strong progress from their starting points. Leaders work tirelessly to ensure that outside agencies provide targeted support for children who need it the most. Staff provide books and learn key phrases in children's home languages. This helps children to feel valued and fosters a sense of belonging.

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The provision is good

Staff are kind and gentle, and they are excellent role models for children and babies. They show respect at all times, which positively influences the way children treat each other and the resources. Children are polite, kind and very well behaved.

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need to do better?

n A key strength of the nursery is the leaders' positive approach to supporting the staff team. Leaders demonstrate an ongoing commitment to making sure that staff are not overburdened and that the workplace is a welcoming work environment. Staff comment that the nursery is a 'fantastic' place to work and that they have many opportunities to further train in areas that interest them. They feel a sense of privilege to work in such a supportive team, where they feel valued and listened to. n The highly-skilled staff, which includes five qualified teachers, create an exciting environment based on children's interests and learning needs. For example, staff play alongside children as they perform and chant familiar phrases from favourite stories. Babies are given space to practise their physical skills, such as crawling and climbing. Staff strongly encourage children of all ages to engage in sensory play. They use these opportunities to gather children's thoughts and

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need to do better?

introduce new descriptive language, such as 'shiny' and 'gloopy'. n There are effective arrangements in place to promote children's confidence and self-esteem. With the support of staff, children become confident in communicating with adults and requesting help when needed. Staff strongly encourage children to ask questions and be inquisitive in their learning, and they regularly ask children to contribute their opinions and listen carefully to what they have to say. Children show high levels of curiosity and independence across

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need to do better?

8 April 2025 all ages in the nursery. n The highly-qualified staff team is skilled and is aware of how children learn. Staff have an excellent knowledge of children's ages and stages of development. This helps them to plan and to challenge children during activities. For example, children show delight searching for, and recognising, numbers during a parachute game. Staff adapt games such as this for each child's capabilities. Consequently, all children achieve and become excited. Their laughter echoes throughout the nursery. n Staff know children extremely well. They play alongside them and support them to take turns and work together. At these times, children forge meaningful friendships and build on their social skills. However, during free play, staff do not always recognise when some children lack the confidence to join in and would benefit from adult encouragement. This does not provide all children with fully

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need to do better?

consistent support to explore their own ideas and build their confidence. n Staff work hard to close gaps in children's learning. They provide children with rich and broad experiences, such as the annual beach outings. Children enjoy visitors to the nursery, such as the 'Dinosaur man'. Staff use celebrations to teach children about other faiths and cultures. Children regularly eat foods from 'around the world'. These experiences help children to develop an understanding of the diverse community in which they live.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

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

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should:

n support staff to recognise when to provide individual children with the support they need to engage in play and activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY491000 Local authority Brighton and Hove Inspection number 10394678 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Wise Owls Nursery School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01273232308 Date of previous inspection 19 September 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Wise Owls Nursery School registered in 2015. The nursery operates from Brighton, East Sussex. It is open each weekday from 8.15am to 4pm for 48 weeks of the year. The nursery employs 15 members of staff. Of these, 11 are qualified up to level 7 and four are unqualified. The nursery provides government funded early education places for children aged from nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n Leaders joined the inspector on a learning walk of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke with leaders about the management of the setting. n Leaders and the inspector completed a joint observation of a planned group activity. n The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation provided. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided in each age group and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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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.

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Inspection activities

8 April 2025 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.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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