Arnold Nursery School and Children’s Centre

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Children get off to a flying start to their education in this welcoming and highly inclusive school. From the moment they arrive, the school treats every child as an individual. The school has high expectations for achievement, attendance and behaviour.

Children make strong progress through the curriculum and achieve well. Staff model the behaviour that is expected of children. As a result, children treat each other with respect and can resolve minor conflicts themselves.

They are happy and confident at school.

The exciting curriculum provides opportunities for children to take risks in their learning. For example, they frequently use the fire pit in the outd...oor area and have lots of opportunities for climbing and exploring.

The school places strong emphasis on teaching children to be safe. Children practise 'stop, drop and roll' before they use the fire pit and learn to cross the road safely when moving between the two school sites.

Children benefit from a range of experiences to support their learning.

During the inspection, a mobile farm visited the school. This linked with the current story, 'The Little Red Hen' and helped to prepare children for reading 'Jack and the Beanstalk' next term.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The curriculum is highly ambitious and meticulously well designed.

The school gives careful thought to children's starting points and previous experiences. Children achieve exceptionally well, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school provides excellent support for children with SEND.

It has a clear process to identify their needs effectively, ensuring they get help quickly. Classrooms are well equipped and organised, giving all children equal access to activities. For example, tools like 'sound buttons' and 'communication boards' are widely used.

Early reading is central to the curriculum. The school chooses texts carefully to support language development and to ensure learning builds over time. Books are usefully available throughout the provision.

Children borrow them weekly from the library. Older children build early phonics skills precisely through activities such as recognising different sounds. Younger children eagerly engage in songs, rhymes and stories with staff.

The school provides staff with extensive training. Consequently, they are highly skilled and knowledgeable. Interactions between adults and children consistently promote language development.

Staff design purposeful activities that enable children to practise what they have learned. Children talk enthusiastically about their learning, using the key words they have been taught. For example, children talk about how to plant seeds and know that they will need water to help them grow.

The school regularly checks children's progress through the curriculum. It provides extra help to those who need it through interventions or focus groups. These are successful in helping children to catch up with their peers.

Parents and carers receive frequent guidance on how to support their children's learning at home. The school builds strong relationships with families.Children behave exceptionally well because of clear routines and consistent expectations from staff.

They show perseverance and resilience in their learning. The school strongly emphasises the importance of regular attendance. It works closely with families to build positive habits to prepare children for the next stage of their education.

Opportunities for pupils' personal development are woven through the curriculum. Children learn how to lead safe, healthy lives and how to be a good citizen. For example, children have opportunities to vote and are expected to tidy away at the end of a session.

Some visitors to school, such as a mechanic and a bricklayer, help to promote aspirations. Other visitors, such as a fire safety officer, help to reinforce and enhance learning. Children learn to respect and celebrate difference.

They celebrate different religious festivals and see children from diverse backgrounds in stories.

The school has a reflective and supportive culture. There is a strong sense of teamwork and a drive for continual improvement.

Governors oversee the school effectively, working with leaders to prioritise staff workload and well-being. This creates a positive environment where staff take pride in their work.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.