Ofsted report makes Yaxley and Mellis Pre-school manager burst with pride

A pre-school manager said she is “lucky to manage such a dedicated and passionate team” following a glowing Ofsted inspection.

Yaxley and Mellis Pre-school was rated as good by the watchdog after a visit in February.

In a report published this week, inspectors said the pre-school supported all of its children, including those with additional needs, to a good standard, with parents speaking highly of the site and its staff.

The report, which gave good ratings across the board, found that children were engaged in their play and learning.

They were given numerous opportunities to develop their fine motor skills, while parents were well informed about the progress and next steps for their children.

Reflecting on the report, pre-school manager Hannah Sinclair said: “As you can imagine, having an Ofsted inspection is not the easiest of times for staff.

“But I was, as I always am, immensely proud of them in how they carried on during the day in the way they always do.

“The inspector often remarked how she could see how happy the children were and how our routines were obviously embedded into their days – and not just put on as she was there. As a manager, I could not be happier with this grading.”

One point highlighted for room for improvement was to have staff ensuring a consistent approach to learning during transitions between daily routines, such as lunchtimes and afternoon activities.

Mrs Sinclair said the pre-school was already taking steps to address these points.

“Since the inspection, we have been reflecting on areas she said we can improve on and are creating action plans that are making the changes needed,” she said.

“We are continuously reflecting on our practice and striving to implement new curriculums, experiences and opportunities for our children.

“This Ofsted inspection has given us all the confidence to know we are doing this well.

“I want to thank our children for the part they played in our inspection. I am so incredibly proud of them all each day. Being able to talk about their achievements and development with such positivity was wonderful.

“I also want to say thank you to the parents who emailed in and spoke to the inspector on the day.

“Being able to read her feedback to the staff on what was said to her was an emotional experience, as we felt really humbled by people’s kind words. I am extremely lucky to manage such a dedicated and passionate team.”

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