A KEYNSHAM nursery for children with special needs and disabilities has been rated as outstanding by Ofsted.
Inspectors gave the high rating to First Steps Opportunity Pre School for the quality of its education, behaviours and attitude, personal development, and leadership and management.
They said of the pre-school, based at Broadlands Academy in St Francis Road, that staff provide an inclusive and supportive service. They get to know each child’s complex needs in detail, building confidence sensitively and skilfully.
“Staff have very high aspirations for children and inspire this in all those that work with them. Parents feel very grateful and relieved to have found a place that supports them and their children so amazingly.”
They were praised for the way they encourage the children to seek ways to meet their sensory needs and regulate their emotions. For example, children switch from showing frustration to calm as staff push them in the spinning chair, surrounded by their favourite toy dinosaurs.
“Children explore other movements in focused sensory sessions and start to seek suitable experiences themselves, developing their independence and the ability to regulate their own needs,” the Ofsted report said.
Staff adapt activities to ensure all children can be included and are careful not to overwhelm them. For example, they pull up a small table and chairs for children who are unsure about joining the group for snack.
They move instruments outside the summer house if children are unsure about entering.
“This is highly effective in providing children with small steps towards bigger skills, building their confidence and engagement very sensitively and beneficially.”
Staff work closely with professionals to ensure children’s welfare. They form a ‘provision map’ for each child with complex physical and medical needs, liaising closely with sight-loss professionals, physiotherapists, nurses and feeding specialists to meet those needs.
The Ofsted report added that there is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first.
The nursery, also known as Bath Opportunity Pre School (BOP), said it was “thrilled” by the Ofsted rating.
“This recognition celebrates the incredible work of our dedicated team and the positive impact BOP continues to have on children and families across Bath and North East Somerset.”
At the time of the inspection, the children attending were aged between two and four. There were 14 places, and 33 children on the roll.
Keynsham nursery rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted
