Chatham Place Nursery School, Liverpool

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

Children enjoy attending this close-knit nursery school. They arrive happily each morning, knowing that the school is a safe place where they feel settled and supported by caring staff. Children typically achieve well. Leaders have high expectations for their achievement, including for children who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They quickly identify and reduce any barriers to learning or wellbeing that children face. As a result, children are ready for their next steps, including their eventual move to primary school. Children develop positive attitudes towards their learning. For example, they confidently play indoors and outdoors. Children are curious to explore and search for bugs under logs in wooded areas. They enjoy listening to stories and learning new words. Children benefit from having ‘reading buddies' with older peers from the linked primary school, which helps to foster their love of reading. Children behave well. They play kindly and cooperatively with others. Children share toys and take turns. They understand the school's routines and generally follow them well. Children learn about different emotions and how they can manage their own feelings. They benefit from spaces that provide quiet and calmness when needed. Staff quickly address any rare incidents of unkindness or bullying. Children learn about the wider world through a range of rich experiences that enhance their learning of the curriculum. For example, they go on trips to farms, zoos and local parks. Children also visit nearby shops regularly. They receive dance and sports sessions from specialist coaches to develop their spatial awareness and large-muscle skills. Children are well prepared for the society in which they live.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should ensure that staff further develop the knowledge and skills that they need to deliver the curriculum consistently well, making full use of opportunities for children to practise and revisit important knowledge across all areas of learning.
• Leaders should support staff in checking how well children learn the intended curriculum, to identify and address any gaps in children's vocabulary and knowledge as they arise.

This school excels at making every child feel welcomed and supported. Staff are genuinely caring and the environment is calm and nurturing, with special attention paid to children's emotional wellbeing through spaces like the 'Zen Den'. The school is particularly strong at supporting children with additional needs and those learning English as an additional language, ensuring no child is left behind.

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders and governors have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and children are made safer and feel safe.

Dance sessions, sports sessions with specialist coaches, trips to farms and zoos, visits to local parks and shops, visits to care homes, community week with parent involvement, reading buddies programme with linked primary school, book club for parents, dentist visits

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