‘Good’ Wigston nursery puts children ‘centre of everything’

The nursery based at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College’s (NWSLC) Wigston Campus has been praised by Ofsted for providing a ‘varied and exciting curriculum’ that helps them to ‘make good progress and behave well’.

Ofsted said that children are ‘highly engaged’ in the activities on offer, which include imaginative play, learning mathematical concepts, reading together, and developing their speaking and understanding skills. The report highlighted that ‘staff are extremely focused on ‘supporting children’s emotional wellbeing’ and provide yoga, mindfulness sessions and a calm environment ‘where children thrive’.

The report highlights how staff instil the importance of kindness and how to be a good friend amongst the children. There is a strong focus on reading amongst the older children who ‘demonstrate their love of books’. Staff instil children with self-esteem and confidence and encourage them to speak in a group. They are adept in identifying children who might need help with speech and language and make swift referrals where appropriate.

Ofsted states that nursery staff ‘prepare children for their move on to the next steps of their education’ and foster links with local schools. They also plan visits within the local community to enhance learning experiences. Parents speak enthusiastically about the nursery and say that they ‘feel well-supported and informed’.

Ofsted judged that nursery leaders are passionate about staff wellbeing and have trained to be mental health first aiders. Staff say that they feel valued and well supported. The nursery is judged to be secure with robust safeguarding arrangements and children are well-supervised in both indoor and outdoor environments.

The comments appeared in a report published following Ofsted’s inspection of the nursery on 24 May 2023 when it was judged to be ‘Good’ in all categories including for the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “We are immensely proud of our nursery and delighted that Ofsted has recognised the positive work of the Wigston nursery team in delivering an enjoyable experience for the children that promotes positive development and learning.

“The report accurately reflects how our children benefit from well-trained staff, an engaging curriculum, and a positive, welcoming environment. The outcome of this Ofsted inspection is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and the support of our parents. I would like to thank everyone for their contribution to the success of the nursery.”

The full inspection report is available to read on the Ofsted website.