Ofsted Report Summary
The Lodge Day Nursery has been judged as “Outstanding” in all areas by Ofsted, with the inspector praising its ‘home-from-home’ experience:
“Children respond extremely positively to the consistently high expectations promoted by staff. They beam with delight as staff give them meaningful praise for their efforts and achievements.”
Outstanding behaviour and attitudes
The report recognises the engagement between staff and children and the positive benefits this brings:
“Children are extremely relaxed and happy. They have quality time with the staff, who support them to feel very safe and secure.”
“Staff talk to children in a calm and respectful manner, gently supporting them to share and take turns with favourite resources. Children respond extremely positively to the consistently high expectations promoted by staff. They beam with delight as staff give them meaningful praise for their efforts and achievements.”
The report praises the staff in their approach to the children’s learning:
“Children’s communication and language skills are very well supported. Staff talk to children all the time. They provide a running commentary about what they are doing and introduce children to new vocabulary. They respond exceptionally well to young children’s babbles and gestures as they learn to communicate.”
The report also notes how well staff support the personal development of the children:
“Young children develop high levels of independence. Staff support them to wash their hands before eating. Staff encourage children to feed themselves and from a young age, they are helped to learn about the importance of good hygiene routines. Children are supported to manage their personal hygiene needs relevant to their age and stage of development.
“Parents comment that their children have made significant progress, in particular with their speech and social skills, because of attending the nursery.”
Outstanding leadership and management
“The management team has high expectations for the nursery and works tirelessly to ensure children have the very best experiences. The manager competently oversees the running of the nursery. She demonstrates an exceptionally strong commitment to continuous improvement and working towards excellence in all areas. This leads to an exceptional provision and outcomes for children.”
“Staff receive high levels of support. They have opportunities to take on responsibilities within the nursery and to further their professional development. Staff wellbeing is given high priority and as a result, they are extremely enthusiastic and motivated.”