A KIDLINGTON Nursery is celebrating after receiving back-to-back outstanding ratings from Ofsted.
The Children’s House, at Park Hill Recreation Ground in Benmead Road, was inspected on June 2 by the school watchdog and praised for providing a “simulating” experience for the children.
Back in 2011, the nursery, which has 29 children aged up to five on roll, also got an “outstanding” rating.
Headteacher and owner Henrietta Ussher, who started the nursery 19 years ago, said Ofsted inspector Amanda Perkin told her it was the finest she had come across.
The Oxford resident, married with 15-year-old twins who used to attend the school, said: “Amanda said ‘I had a lovely day’ and she said every single member of staff gave off an aura of calm.
“She also said the children were so active and she noticed how happy all the children were and that it was the best nursery she has ever visited.
“I think we have a fantastic team and my deputy headteacher, Melissa Fryer, has been with us for 18 years so I think it is having a low staff turnover that has made us so successful.
“I have taught more than 1,600 children in Kidlington so our experience and standing in the village is getting better and better.”
The nursery was recognised by Montessori Education, which oversees Montessori schools nationwide, with an accreditation – given to those with exceptional performance.
In its inspection report, Ofsted cited the school’s ability to cater to children with special educational needs as another reason for the rating.
The report said: “Children with a range of abilities and needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, receive superb support and, as a result, make excellent progress and enjoy their play.”
Parent Emile Fidler, whose four-year-old son Charlie has been attending the nursery since January 2014, could not believe the information he had learnt.
According to the primary school teacher, who has lived in Kidlington for two years, Charlie can already explain the structure of plants and areas of the human body.
She added: “It is amazing how much he has learnt with them considering that sitting still and focusing on one thing is not generally his first priority.
“There are these little projects that they do.
“There was one about plants and he came home and could completely explain how the roots and the leaves work.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel