Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury nursery staff are praised for good work

A Shrewsbury nursery has been rated as good report by government inspectors.

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Priory Lodge Day Care Centre. Photo: Google StreetView.

Priory Lodge Day Care Centre was visited by Ofsted inspectors last month and they found that teaching at the nursery, which looks after up to 35 children aged up to five, was good.

In the report, inspector Parm Sansoyer said: "Staff use an interesting range of topics that is often inspired by children's interests such as light and dark, sun and space and the seasons.

"Staff use these topics well to promote good learning opportunities with a clear focus on promoting children's communication and language skills and their literacy development.

"Staff are attentive and introduce new words and encourage them to communicate.

"They develop warm relationships with children and have good knowledge of their individual needs and parents' wishes. There is a good range of resources available to reflect cultural diversity, disability and children learn about their own and other families."

The report added that: "Children show a keen interest in the natural world and show good levels of attention during group times. Children enjoy learning and easily follow instructions during adult-led activities. Children develop the key skills required in preparation for school."

The inspector noted that the nursery was clean and vibrant and that staff place a strong emphasis on teaching children about keeping safe and healthy.

The inspector added: "Staff give good regard to promoting children's personal, social and emotional development and children behave well. For example, staff give children the time and space to concentrate on activities and experiences, and develop their own interests."

However, the nursery was not yet outstanding because staff did not use all the information gathered from assessments to plan challenging activities which would help children make progress. The report added that the manager of the nursery did no 'incisively evaluate and monitor staff practice to help raise the use of available resources and quality of teaching to an exceptional level."