ST Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre continues to deserve the outstanding rating it has had for 15 years, according to Ofsted.
Two inspectors visited in July and were full of praise for children and staff at the “thoroughly inclusive” school.
They said staff were highly ambitious for the 191 pupils and their expertise and deep understanding of how children develop enabled exceptional learning to take place.
Among the many positive comments in the report:
• Children are happy, confident learners
• Children have an exceptional sense of self
• Children benefit from moments of curiosity and wonder
• Key workers understand the unique child and tailor learning to meet their needs.
In a letter to parents and carers sharing the report, headteacher Lucy Driver thanks children, families, staff and partners for their contribution to the school’s continuing record of success.
“St Pauls has now been judged to be outstanding for the last 15 years! And we are the only Nursery School in Central Bristol area to continue to be judged Outstanding.
“This is by no means an easy feat – the Ofsted framework changes regularly, and also the cohorts and needs of our children change over time. Responding to local changing needs, changes in educational direction etc whilst maintaining and improving our quality of outstanding provision takes real team commitment and values led leadership.
“We are proud of our achievements here at Nursery! Particularly proud given that as you know, like others, we have been struggling within the context of a national recruitment crisis, and with reduced budgets, yet we still have great ambition and execution.”
St Paul’s has won national recognition for its work in early years (Eys) education. It was designated firstly as a National Teaching School and more recently as a South West Regional EYs Stronger Practice Hub ‘Bristol and Beyond’.
Ms Driver adds: “As a group we are fully invested in continuing to change, adapt, improve, review and reimagine outstanding Early Years experiences to provide the very best for your child.
“We hope they enjoy this year at our Nursery, and whilst they are here, develop skills for life, confidence and love for learning, and a true sense of self and belonging.”
The Ofsted visit in the final week of the last academic year a short schools inspection considering the quality of the nursery’s provision for children aged two to four. St Paul’s also received the top rating from the watchdog in 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2019. From this September, Ofsted has dropped the practice of single-word judgements.
Like our other local private or voluntary nurseries St Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre is also inspected for its day care for 0-2 year-olds, for which it was also judged to be outstanding in 2022.