The All My Friends Barnwood Nursery in Gloucester has once again secured a Good rating from Ofsted, with inspectors commending the nurturing environment, high-quality education, and joyful child-centered play. The nursery, accommodating 82 children aged 0 to 4, maintained its Good rating across all categories, including education quality, behavior, personal development, and leadership. The report praised the warm and attentive staff and the confident and happy children at the nursery.
Inspectors highlighted the nurturing environment, where staff were observed to promptly attend to babies' needs, fostering a sense of security and confidence in exploration. The report also noted the development of key early learning skills in pre-school children, as well as the emphasis on independence and the encouragement of good oral health practices.
Strong leadership and well-tailored curriculum were identified as key strengths, with managers fostering team spirit and providing effective support for staff. The nursery’s well-planned curriculum was observed to be tailored to each age group, and extra support was noted for children with special educational needs and those speaking English as an additional language. However, areas for improvement were also identified, such as the need for more guidance on respecting the environment and consistently challenging the most able children during self-chosen play.
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The report also commended the children’s self-esteem and behavior, the inviting outdoor play provision, and the nursery’s effective partnership with parents. Trips and outings were noted as contributing to the children’s understanding of the world, while safeguarding arrangements were deemed effective, establishing a positive culture that prioritizes the children’s interests.
Karen Heaton-Jones from the nursery expressed delight with the inspection outcome, emphasizing their commitment to monitoring performance and building resilient, independent learners. She also highlighted the warm and welcoming community at All My Friends, where practitioners, children, and families collaborate to achieve the best outcomes for every child.