The education watchdog inspects services for learners of all ages - including schools, childminders, training providers, and local authorities- regularly and assigns them one of four different ratings: “Outstanding” is the top rating, followed by “Good”, “Requires Improvement” and “Inadequate.”
The classification is based on five key categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provisions.
Note that nurseries and pre-schools are not inspected every year.
Here are all the Bristol nurseries and pre-schools rated as "outstanding" by Ofsted (as of August 14, 2024). All full reports - including category scores - are available via Ofsted’s official website.
13. St Paul’s Nursery School & Children’s Centre, Little Bishop Street St Paul’s Bristol BS2 9JF
Published in February 2019, the Ofsted report for St Paul’s Nursery School & Children’s Centre reads: "Adults keep detailed and precise assessments of each child’s learning and development. All disadvantaged children have detailed plans which identify how adults will adapt the teaching to meet their needs. This has resulted in a range of actions to make sure that disadvantaged pupils make rapid progress. From typically low starting points, children make substantial and sustained progress in language and literacy. Those who speak English as an additional language make an excellent start because support staff are very well deployed to manage the transition to speaking in their home language to English. Observations of children and evidence in their school records show that they make rapid progress from speaking in simple phrases to full and extended sentences. Leaders have an accurate view of the school’s effectiveness. Governors provide strong challenge and support for leaders to make sure that all groups of pupils make the progress they are capable of. Planning for improvement has been very effective and, as a result, the gaps in learning between groups have closed or are closing rapidly. Leaders have plans for improvement in place for each area of learning and for groups of learners. Leaders and governors review these plans so that they can intervene quickly if children are not making enough progress. Leaders’ plans to develop children’s mathematical understanding are developing well. While this has led to improvements to children’s confidence in counting, leaders recognise rightly that children need to strengthen their understanding of mathematical language further." | Google Maps
14. Harcourt Preschool Co-Op, Wells Room, St. Albans Church Hall, Bayswater Avenue, Bristol BS6 7NU
Published in December 2018, the Ofsted report for Harcourt Preschool Co-Op reads: "Staff have extremely high expectations of what children can achieve. All children, including those with special educational needs and /or disabilities (SEND), make excellent progress from their starting points. Staff are excellent role models. Children develop confidence and become independent at meeting their own needs. For instance, the youngest children take the lead on cutting and preparing snack; they use the recycling bins to separate waste and clear their plates and cups away. Partnerships with parents are very strong. Leaders and staff develop secure relationships with parents, keeping them involved in all aspects of their child's care and learning exceptionally well. Staff base a high emphasis on children's health and well-being. For instance, they support children to learn about the benefits of a healthy diet, and children take part in regular exercise and yoga sessions." | Google Maps