Children progress 'extremely well' through this Leeds nursery - Ofsted report

The progression of children at a nursery in Leeds has been praised by Ofsted inspectors.

Little Buttons Nursery, located at St. Bridgids Church, on Elland Road, Churwell, scored a ‘Strong standard’ rating in five out of the six inspected categories during an Ofsted visit on May 6 this year.

Inspectors adjudged the nursery to have reached a strong standard in the areas of achievement, children's welfare and wellbeing, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance.

The site, which was previously rated as Outstanding under Ofsted’s old scoring system in a 2022 inspection, scored an ‘Expected standard’ in the category of behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines.

“All children progress extremely well from their starting points,” the education watchdog said. “This is evident across all areas of learning and development. Children achieve their personal next steps in a rapid, timely and sustained manner.

“Children from an early age have independent care practices. This is highly effective and embedded at the setting, for example, blowing their own noses and then putting the tissue in the bin and washing their hands. This supports children to effectively manage their own personal needs.”

Staff at Little Buttons consistently identify children's needs quickly, according to the report. This allows them to make reflective adaptations to the learning environment and ensures all children can access the learning offer, for example by making physical adaptations.

They have developed the skills and knowledge to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff are eager to take part in training to develop their knowledge.

Leaders have securely embedded a highly coherent and clearly sequenced curriculum outlining the precise skills and knowledge they want children to learn across all rooms. There is a significant and sustained focus on communication and language development, with a strong emphasis on fostering a lifelong love of books.

Children independently and purposefully choose books within their play and regularly take them home to share with their families. These experiences are further strengthened through carefully designed home reading packs.

Focusing on areas of further improvement, inspectors added: “Leaders should continue to support all staff to consistently embed the highest expectations for children's behaviour.

“They should review and refine mealtime routines to reduce minor inconsistencies in practice, helping to minimise waiting times for children and ensure that transitions remain smooth, consistent and efficient across the setting.”

Staff follow routines at the setting to support children in understanding what is coming next, according to the report. However, there are some minor inconsistencies in the implementation of mealtime routines across rooms, which can result in occasional waiting times and less efficient transitions for children.

Leaders know their local area and families extremely well and ensure the setting's offer is closely matched to their needs. They work proactively with families to ensure they receive the right support at the right time.

They demonstrate a highly proactive approach to identifying and addressing areas for development within the setting, and prioritise staff wellbeing to ensure staff feel highly valued for their contribution.

Kay Stevens, Manager at Little Buttons Nursery, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this rating and are incredibly proud of what it represents. It reflects the dedication, passion, and hard work of our entire team, who work tirelessly every day to provide the highest quality care and learning experiences for our children.

“Early years education is such an important stage in a child's development, and we are committed to creating a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where every child can thrive.

“Achieving this rating is a testament to the care, professionalism, and commitment shown by our staff, as well as the strong partnerships we have with our families.”