Sunnylands Nursery School’s new shared vision “Sowing, Growing and Blossoming Together” is lived out successfully through the commitment of the whole school community.
The staff provide a friendly, family orientated learning environment where everyone is valued and nurtured and where the children flourish.
The school engages in highly effective processes of self-evaluation that inform appropriately the priorities identified in the school development plan. The focus on language and communication and the further development of learning and teaching are appropriate priorities following the implementation of standardisation provision to help enable all of the staff to meet the needs of all of the children.
All of the staff have high expectations for all of the children. The highly skilled staff use a very effective cycle of planning, observation and assessment, that includes child-initiated learning and the development of continuous provision, to meet the unique needs of each child and to develop further their learning opportunities.
The school’s focus on the health and well-being of the whole school community has been prioritised as the children settle into their new school. The children have access to a range of physical activities and packs, a stimulating and accessible learning environment and an emphasis on healthy eating. The children are also supported to understand their own emotions and behaviours.
For the time of year, almost all of the children have settled well into the school. They engage confidently with the adults and are developing their independence. Digital
tools such as interactive white boards, realistic toy phones, laptops and digital devices are integrated effectively into the children’s play and are used appropriately by the staff to enhance the children’s learning.
A majority of the children are following the new routines and making good progress in their learning. The children participate in a range of early mark making opportunities and are already beginning to draw with some skill and to incorporate detail. They are developing well their language and communication skills by participating actively in rhymes and songs with percussion instruments. They enjoy stories and the additional small group work supports well their attention and listening skills. In the outdoors, the children show respect for their environment as they plant flowers, use natural materials and apples to make ‘leafy apple pie’, and climb and balance with control and co-ordination on a range of resources.
There is a comprehensive and structured approach to identifying and supporting the children with special educational needs (SEN) which is outlined clearly in the school’s SEN policy and the associated comprehensive provision map. All of the staff engage in meticulous record-keeping for the children with SEN, including Personal Learning Plans (PLPs) with relevant SMART targets, regular consultation with parents/carers and engagement with outside agencies to provide appropriate support. They prioritise inclusive practices to support all of the children, including tailored speech and language programmes and the effective use of sensory rooms with calming strategies and visual timetables.
There is a rich culture of self-evaluation and collaborative planning which involves all of the staff, promotes positive working relationships and is supported by strategically chosen professional learning opportunities. The staff participate regularly in well-established learning clusters with a number of local nursery schools to share effective practice and enhance further their knowledge and skills. In addition, the long-standing and dedicated governors use their skill sets well to provide consistent and valuable support which directly benefits the children and their families.
The staff have developed very good relationships with families through their participation in school life. They provide regular advice on which services to access, and provide home learning packs, parental workshops through ‘stay and play’ sessions and include other activities as part of the Department of Education’s Getting Ready to Learn programme. Through monthly newsletters, digital applications and regular informal and formal meetings, the parents/carers are updated regularly about their child’s learning and progress. The school seeks regularly the views of parents/carers and uses their responses in a productive and meaningful way to develop further the opportunities for parents to engage in their child’s learning.
At the time of the inspection, the evidence provided by the nursery school demonstrates that the arrangements for child protection align to the current statutory guidance.
Next steps
Sunnylands Nursery School is an integral part of the community and the vision to “sow, grow and blossom together” is impacting positively on the children’s learning experiences but also extends beyond the nursery gates to develop successful communication, collaboration and connections with the wider school community to ensure continuous learning for all.
ETI will continue to work with Sunnylands Nursery School as it addresses the area for action which is to continue to develop the learning experiences for the children following the introduction of a standardised day. ETI will also work with the school to share the example of highly effective practice from which others may learn which focuses on the school’s committed approach to establish relationships, develop the skills and engage positively with parents so they are empowered to support their child’s learning.
