Ofsted reports for Plymouth schools, nurseries and childminders graded
HomeHome > Blog > Ofsted reports for Plymouth schools, nurseries and childminders graded

Ofsted reports for Plymouth schools, nurseries and childminders graded

Mar 23, 2023

All of the following Ofsted reports were issued in May

Get the stories that matter to our community straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter

We have more newsletters

There's one more school term before the summer holidays - but some staff and schools have been busy showing Ofsted just how brilliant they are.

In the last month four nurseries, two schools and one childminder have been visited by the education watchdog. But inspectors have had nothing but praise to say about all seven settings.

We've taken a look at the most recent reports, issued in May. Some of the settings were inspected earlier in the year but the reports have only just been made public.

Scroll down to see if your child's nursery, school or childminder has been recently inspected. You can view the report for any school, nursery or childminder here.

Salisbury Road Baptist Church, Rosebery Avenue, PLYMOUTH, PL4 8SX

Rating: Good

The Ofsted report states: "Children settle quickly in this friendly pre-school. They show curiosity in theactivities available and quickly engage with toys that interest them. Staff provide acurriculum around topics children enjoy, such as minibeasts.

"Children search for bugs in the garden and talk about what they have found. Staff use their interest toencourage communication throughout the day, including during snack time. While children eat, staff provide picture card prompts. This promotes discussions to helpchildren recall prior knowledge about their 'bug hunt' and the creatures they found.

"Children have a positive attitude to learning.Children enjoy the company of others. Staff encourage children to playcooperatively and to share resources, such as when they use the scooters. They encourage children to take on small tasks. For instance, children can be a 'specialhelper', where they tidy away the snack dishes, to promote their independence anda sense of responsibility."

Read the full report here.

YMCA, Honicknowle Lane, PLYMOUTH PL5 3NG

Rating: Good

The Ofsted report states: "Children settle quickly and are keen to explore the stimulating learningenvironment. Staff interact positively with children, showing them warmth andkindness. Children respond affectionately and snuggle up with staff in a blanket asthey share stories together.

"Children feel comfort and a sense of security. Staffhelp children to learn about their emotions and provide quiet spaces where childrencan feel safe. Children sing songs about how they feel using different voice tones.

"They confidently link their feelings to actions to support their emotionaldevelopment.Children enjoy the free choice between indoor and outdoor play. They showcuriosity and a positive attitude to learning.

"Staff provide children withopportunities to help develop their physical skills. They place items of interest highup in trees to encourage children to stretch and strengthen their muscles. Children enjoy navigating the uneven ground. They persevere when climbing up the smallhill mounds and relish shouting to their peers from the top, which aids theircommunication.

"Leaders use additional funding to employ more staff to support children's individualneeds. They also provide all children with extra activities to enhance theirknowledge about the world around them. For instance, children learn about andhold a variety of insects provided by an outside professional."

Read the full report here.

20 Crownhill Fort Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5BX

Rating: Good

The Ofsted report states: "Children arrive happily at this warm, welcoming setting. Friendly, attentive andnurturing staff greet them with smiles. Children show they feel safe and secure asthey confidently say goodbye to their parents with ease.

"The highly effective keyperson system is firmly embedded within the setting. Children have formed strongbonds with staff, who know them very well. Staff have high expectations forchildren.

"All children, including those with special educational needs and/ordisabilities (SEND), and their families, are very well supported. The setting is fullyinclusive, and staff ensure that all children have full access to the curriculum.Children have excellent opportunities to develop their small-muscle skills.

"For example, children strengthen their hand muscles as they investigate a range ofactivities. Younger children roll dough and press cutters to make different shapes. Older children concentrate as they use their fingers to grasp small pegs, which they attach to peg boards to form coloured patterns.

"Children are forming special friendships with each other as they initiate their ownplay. For example, children engage in imaginative play together. They makevegetable soup for their 'babies', who they say are 'poorly'. Children giggle and laugh as they explore real vegetables, adding them to pretend cooking pots tomake 'soup'. Children say they are feeding the soup to their 'babies' to make themfeel better."

Read the full report here.

Mudge Way, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 2AQ

Rating: Good

The Ofsted report states: "Children settle quickly at this setting. Staff greet them with a friendly smile and encourage them into activities that interest them. The setting's curriculum aims to provide children with essential skills that help them to develop into social, confidentand communicative learners.

"For instance, staff ensure stories are consistently embedded into the children's day to encourage shared interactions. Older babies recognise pictures of vehicles in books and say singular words, such as 'bus' and'car'. Staff help toddlers to recreate a story about a teddy bear going into space.

"Toddlers use large cardboard boxes as their 'rocket' and a sieve as a 'helmet'. Preschool children share their knowledge of their favourite tales, including 'TheGruffalo'. They talk about the characters in the story and use descriptive language, such as how the 'Gruffalo' has a 'poisonous wart at the end of his nose'."

View the report here.

Seymour Road, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 4LT

Rating: Good

The Ofsted report states: "Pupils are proud of their school. They have ‘pride in the badge’. Pupils understand thehigh expectations leaders have for them. In lessons, they follow the routines and focus ontheir learning. Sixth-form students are role models to younger pupils. For example, they manage sports at breaktime for younger pupils to play.

"Pupils are respectful. When bullying happens, there are different ways to report it. Pupils are confident that leaders deal with it effectively. Pupils know that abusive and derogatorylanguage is not tolerated.

"Hele's School has a considerable range of extra-curricular activities, which pupils appreciate and enjoy. A large number of pupils and sixth-form students join the Combined Cadet Force. They develop leadership skills, engage with the community and have a widerange of experiences.

"Many pupils participate in Ten Tors and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. School productions ensure that they are highly inclusive and have a high number of pupils participating. Pupils work with national theatre projects to develop theirskills in theatre.

"There are clubs and activities covering a range of different interests. Leaders make sure there is something for everyone. As a result, pupils experience a broadrange of opportunities."

Read the full report here.

Brentford Avenue, Whitleigh, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 4HD

Rating: Good

The Ofsted report states: "St Peter's is the hub of the community. Pupils are happy and enjoy coming to school. Staff set high expectations and model what these look like in all that they do.

"Staff, parents and pupils work in harmony to achieve the best possible outcomes for pupils. Often, pupils join the school who have not been successful in other settings. These pupils settle quickly and achieve well. All parents who completed Ofsted's survey would recommendthe school.

"Many parents comment that ‘St Peter's is a lovely family.’Leaders prioritise pupils’ personal development. A core feature of the curriculum is forpupils to learn about the world beyond Plymouth. Leaders ensure that pupils understand the challenges that society faces today.

"Leaders provide pupils with opportunities to play their part in tackling these challenges. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils’ behaviour during learning and social times is very positive. Older pupils say thatbullying was a problem in the past. They are confident that this is no longer the case.

"Pupils feel safe in school. One pupil told inspectors, ‘No matter what the situation, adultswill always help you.’ Leaders and staff have put together a wide range of extra-curricular clubs. Pupils participate in and appreciate these opportunities. They enjoy being part of wider schoollife."

Read the full report here

PL2

Rating: Good

The Ofsted report states: "Children are happy, settled and independent learners. They enjoy their time with the childminder, who is friendly and has a calm disposition. The childminder plansher curriculum around what children need to learn next. She focuses on supporting children's language skills to enable them to be confident communicators. For instance, she provides younger children with a basket of different items to promote their curiosity.

"Children enjoy exploring the range of metal, wooden and plastic objects. They use these to create a variety of sounds. The childminder uses clear and simple words to encourage children to copy, such as saying 'hello' through a cardboard tube. Children laugh at how the tube makes the childminder's voicesound deeper. They have a positive attitude to learning and try to imitate the wordback to her. All children behave well. They show care and consideration to one another. Older children enthusiastically offer to prepare snack for themselves and the younge rchildren.

"They independently cut up grapes, apples and strawberries, serving thesein small bowls for their younger peers. All children show respect for the childminder and her home, offering to tidy away resources once they have finished playing with them."

View the report here.

You can view any Ofsted report on the website here.

Read next:

Wowcher's £19.99 mystery deal includes Lay-Z spa and egg chairs

Latest Argos voucher codes for this week include 25 per cent off garden furniture