A NURSERY in Ryedale has retained its ‘Good’ Ofsted rating after a recent inspection.

Meadowfield Nursery School, in Amotherby, has kept its rating after an inspector from the watchdog visited on February 20.

It cares for children aged two to 11, and had 36 children on roll when it was inspected.

The nursery was rated ‘Good’ in all areas by the inspector, and retained the rating from its last inspection in 2017.

Manager Sarah Harper said: “We are pleased that we had a good inspection, and we will carry on as usual supporting children and their families.”

In their report, the inspector praised staff at the nursery as “friendly and professional” and said that children are “happy and safe in this welcoming setting”.

At the nursery, the inspector said there is a strong focus on developing children’s mathematical skills.

They explained how staff challenge children to think critically, and use a range of mathematical terms to suite the children’s stage of development.

Staff praised for support

During the Covid pandemic, the inspector said the management team went “out of their way” to keep in touch with children and families who were unable to attend the setting.

Staff sent home activity suggestions, to support parents with ideas of what they could do at home to continue children's learning.

Further praise in the report was given to the staff’s support for children’s learning and development.

“Staff skilfully adjust activities to consider the varying abilities of children taking part,” the report states.

The report adds that activities are planned to support children's varying interests which “helps them to become deeply engaged” but said: “Sometimes activities are not sufficiently focused on what children already know and can do to move their learning forward to the highest level.”

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Overall, the inspector said the children’s independence skills were “well supported”, and gave further praise to their behaviour and how staff respond to this.

They said: “On the odd occasion when children do something which is not in line with the high behavioural expectations, staff respond well.

“They carefully explain what they would like children to do.”

The inspector found safeguarding arrangements at the nursery to be effective.

“Staff talk confidently about a range signs and symptoms which may suggests a child is at risk of harm or abuse,” they said.

On what can be done for the nursery to improve further, the inspector advised the provider to strengthen the planning of activities to ensure it builds “more clearly on what children already know and can do”.

They also advised the nursery to extend opportunities for children during meal times to practice their independence skills and make choices for themselves.

The report can be read in full on Ofsted’s website.