As the new year moves quickly towards the end of January, we are incredibly pleased to share our most recent Ofsted inspection report with you. We were one of just a handful of schools and nurseries inspected under the new framework, and we are extremely proud of both the process and the outcome. The report is a true reflection of who we are, what we value, and the care, ambition and integrity that underpins everything we do.
For us, this report has been more than an outcome; it has been a reassurance and reinstatement of confidence in our vision, direction and decision-making. As a family-run setting, often working differently to the norm and with a smaller external support network, it can be easy at times to question whether you are doing the right thing by doing things differently. This inspection confirmed that not only are we on the right path, but that our approach is strong, thoughtful and impactful for children.
With this clarity and confidence, we have taken the start of the year as the right moment to fully embed our new curriculum.
This curriculum has been intentionally designed with Generation Alpha in mind, focusing on the skills, knowledge, adaptability and emotional resilience children will need for the future world, not the past. It also reflects how we believe learning should be delivered: through purposeful play, meaningful experiences, strong relationships, exploration and curiosity-led learning.
The team are incredibly excited by this next phase. We see the curriculum as a working, evolving process, one that will be trialled, reflected upon and adjusted as we learn and grow together. What better way to roll this out than practically, with children at the centre, and with ongoing staff and family consultation shaping the journey as it develops?
This year, we are also taking a slightly different approach to our Day Nursery and Forest School provision. Leaders across the setting are undertaking training to become Level 3 Forest School Leaders, ensuring that Forest School is delivered through and through, rather than as a stand-alone or occasional session. This enables us to truly optimise children’s access to this unique way of learning and living, embedding risk-taking, resilience, independence and a deep connection to the natural world across daily practice.
You may already have noticed some wonderful changes in the way play and learning are being delivered across the nursery. Alongside this, we are gently increasing our focus on technology, introduced in developmentally appropriate ways, not only tablets, but robotics, cameras, music technology and creative digital tools that support exploration, communication and problem-solving.
We will also be stepping up our themes and the way we showcase children’s learning. Where children choose, work will be shared and sent home, while other pieces will be retained to enrich our learning environment and deepen long-term projects. This links closely with our growing focus on environmental sustainability, not simply teaching which bin to put plastic in, but embedding sustainable thinking across all areas of nursery life and decision-making.
Over the coming months, we will also be completing a number of awards and accreditations, which we look forward to sharing with you as they are achieved.
Alongside everything you see day to day, significant work continues behind the scenes around budgets, staffing and long-term planning, with extremely exciting plans and opportunities ahead for our staff, families and the wider local community.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We are incredibly proud of where we are, and even more excited about where we are going.