Outwood Pre School: Wakefield nursery completes Ofsted turnaround after Inadequate rating
A Wakefield nursery has completed a six month Ofsted ratings turnaround.
Outwood Pre School, located in Leeds Road, Wakefield, was rated Good in all four inspected categories - the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
It completed an impressive rating turnaround for the nursery, which was previously rated as Inadequate in January 2024.
The popular Wakefield nursery was downgraded from its previous rating of Good, which it had held for its last five inspections, after inspectors raised “child welfare” concerns.
The education watchdog said: “Children look forward to attending this warm and welcoming pre-school. They happily separate from their parents and carers on arrival and quickly become busy playing and exploring the learning environment.
“Children concentrate well as they engage in their play with friends or independently. Their learning is supported well, overall, by staff, who play alongside or with the children.”
Parents speak highly of the leaders and staff. They say that staff are nurturing and provide a friendly and homely environment for their children.
Leaders and staff liaise with the local authority and external professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Looking at where the nursery could improve further, inspectors said: “The provider should develop strategies to support quieter and less-confident children to grow their language and communication skills.
“Strengthen the monitoring of staff practice, to inform evaluations of the preschool and identify targeted areas for development to raise the quality of education to even higher levels.”
Staff at Outwood support children to “learn good health and hygiene routines”. They talk to children about good handwashing techniques as they wash their hands before snack time. Staff invite children to brush their teeth as part of the session.
The arrangements for safeguarding are described as effective. There is an “open and positive culture” around safeguarding that puts the “children's interests first”.