Middleton Nursery ‘Outstanding’

Fisherfield Childcare was graded Outstanding by Ofsted inspectors

A children’s nursery in Middleton has been graded ‘outstanding’ in all areas after its latest Ofsted inspection.

Fisherfield Childcare on Long Street received the highest grading across all areas assessed: effectiveness of the leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, and outcomes for children.

The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 staff hold an appropriate early years qualification at level three, whilst manager Sabrina Igbal holds qualified teacher status.

Ms Iqbal said: “We are so pleased with the outcome of our first inspection. It was a real pleasure to showcase all our hard work to the inspector on the day. We would like to thank all our parents for their input in establishing strong partnerships with the nursery, this is something that the inspector highlighted as a strength.”

Parent Rebecca Raynor commented: “An excellent Ofsted report and great to see the progress being made. It’s a fantastic nursery, the staff are enthusiastic and are so committed to making each day a wonderful experience for all of the children.”

Staff were praised for their “wide range of skills to keep children fully engaged in extremely well-planned and purposeful play” with “highly detailed introductions” to explain the activity’s purpose. The report’s authors also praised staff for their interactions, balanced with allowing enough time for children to think and form their own ideas and opinions.

Staff were also applauded for being highly capable in fulfilling their roles with a “very thorough understanding of how to keep children safe, recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and report any concerns.”

Detailed tracking documents provide an accurate overview of the stage each child is at and are offered motivating and exciting activities to develop their learnings. Documentation is up-to-date, very comprehensive, well organised, stored securely and underpins the outstanding practice in the setting well.

The children were commended for their “exemplary” behaviour and take part in a range of interesting and educational outings. They also learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle and are offered a range of healthy home-cooked food, opportunities to exercise regularly and drink fresh water daily.

Fisherfield was applauded for an “extremely bright, welcoming and calm” setting, and for the outstanding progress children make, noting they socialise ‘exceptionally well’ and learn important life skills, like independence, sharing and taking turns.

They are well prepared for their next stage in learning and their future move to school.

The nursery operates an open-door policy, welcoming parents to view the facility without a prior appointment. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children and supports children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language.