Ashworth Nursery School, Blackburn

What it's like to be a pupil at Ashworth Nursery School

Children are well cared for and nurtured at this calm, happy school. They greet staff with beaming smiles when they arrive and are confident to separate from their parents and carers. The minority of children who find this transition difficult, are given support, comfort and reassurance from staff. They quickly settle and join in with their friends. Children feel safe and secure in the presence of staff. Children play together cooperatively and support each other. For example, children notice when another child is struggling to climb outside and they offer a helping hand. When occasional minor fall outs happen, children are well supported by staff to resolve these quickly and calmly. Children follow the routines and rules. Children who find it challenging to manage their emotions access specific support to help them develop these skills. This has a positive impact on enabling children to cope in different areas of school life. Children are included in all aspects of school life at this highly inclusive school. Individual children's unique needs are understood in detail by leaders. Any barriers that children face to their learning or wellbeing are identified swiftly through the school's robust processes. This includes information collected before children start at the school. Children are given extensive, targeted support to reduce these barriers. Children enjoy the learning opportunities that staff and leaders create for them. They benefit from a broad and engaging curriculum that prepares them well for starting primary school. Children achieve well, particularly in their language and communication skills. Children broaden their personal development through an extensive range of hands on experiences. For example, the curriculum is enriched with local visits and visitors to the school. These are personalised to the needs of the children. Children grow their own vegetables in the ‘secret garden' and experience seeing caterpillars develop into butterflies. Leaders support parents and carers to ensure that their children attend school regularly, so that they do not miss valuable learning experiences.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should ensure that teaching consistently maximises the opportunities for engaging children in high quality interactions to that they build on their learning across all areas of the curriculum.
• Leaders should ensure that teachers accurately identify and address children's gaps in knowledge, so that children consistently embed their knowledge for later learning.

This is a warm, caring school where children feel happy and secure. Staff are highly skilled at supporting children with different needs, including those learning English as an additional language and children with additional learning needs. The school prepares children very well for primary school by focusing on important life skills like communication, emotional understanding, and building positive friendships.

Safeguarding standards are met. Leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Spanish language learning, community visits and litter picking, sponsored walks for charity, cooking with parents, sports, imaginative play experiences (astronaut station, garage, beach themed play areas)

Bus Stops