We are so pleased to announce that Happy Days Nursery and Pre-School, Verwood has been recognised as meeting Ofsted Strong Standard in all areas! We’re also proud to confirm that our safeguarding practices were judged as Met, reflecting the high priority we place on the safety and well-being of every child in our care.
Inspectors noted that our children: “develop high levels of independence and confidence in managing their own needs. Babies feed themselves using open cups and spoons, while older children confidently and independently serve meals, clear away their plates and wash them afterwards. Children continually cooperate well, share resources and take turns during play. All children are well prepared for their next stage of learning. “
We’d also like to spotlight Ofsted answered what it’s like to be a child at our setting like this: ‘Children thrive in this welcoming and nurturing setting. They benefit from a highly ambitious, broad and well-sequenced curriculum. Children of all ages, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are disadvantaged and those with barriers to learning, enjoy meaningful experiences that build their knowledge and skills across all areas of learning. Babies squeal with delight as they hide inside a large cardboard box during imaginative play with enthusiastic staff. Older children confidently practise their football skills outdoors and celebrate one another’s success with excitement.’
Ofsted has recently moved away from single-word grades to provide a more detailed look at how nurseries perform. Instead of a one-size-fits-all label, settings are now evaluated against specific quality standards:
π΅ Exceptional: Significantly exceeds expectations.
π΅ Strong Standard: Securely above the expected quality.
π΅ Expected Standard: Consistently and reliably meets all requirements.
π΅ Needs Attention / Urgent Improvement: Areas where further work is required.
By achieving the Strong Standard across the board, Happy Days Verwood has proven to be a secure, effective, and high-quality environment for early years education.
The inspection team praised our warm and inclusive atmosphere. They observed first-hand how our children; from our curious babies to our confident pre-schoolers – settle in quickly and form deep, trusting relationships with our nursery team.
The report highlighted several key strengths:
π‘ Leaders have designed a highly ambitious, broad and well-sequenced curriculum
π‘ Staff know children extremely well and use accurate assessment to identify next steps, consolidate children’s learning and provide appropriate challenge
π‘ Children consistently behave well and show positive attitudes towards learning
Read the full report here.
To learn more about the way Ofsted reports work now, visit our blog.