Earl Shilton nursery praised for ‘fantastic progress’ as it achieves Strong Standard across every area

Earl Shilton Children’s Day Nursery has achieved Strong Standards across every area of its latest Ofsted inspection, with inspectors praising children’s progress, wellbeing and the nursery’s welcoming community.

Children at Earl Shilton Children’s Day Nursery are making “fantastic progress”, according to Ofsted, after the nursery achieved Strong Standard across every area of its latest inspection.

Inspectors visited the High Street nursery in July and found Strong Standards across achievement; behaviour, attitudes and routines; children’s welfare and wellbeing; curriculum and teaching; inclusion; and leadership and governance. Safeguarding standards were also met.

Under Ofsted’s new framework, a Strong Standard means the nursery is working above the standard expected.

But beyond the inspection outcome, the report captures what everyday childhood looks and feels like at Earl Shilton. Ofsted described a “very positive, calm and friendly nursery community” where children and families feel welcomed and valued. Inspectors saw children making fantastic progress, developing strong communication and language skills, forming friendships and growing in confidence.

They also saw the smaller moments that matter. Warm relationships between children and staff, cuddles when children are tired, stories shared together and a team who take the time to understand each child and what they need. Children’s welfare, the report said, is “at the very heart” of leaders’ decision-making. Every child being known and supported as an individual was another strength. Ofsted described support for children with special educational needs and disabilities as “highly developed”, recognising a team that understands children learn in different ways and has high ambitions for what every child can achieve.

Food also plays an important part in nursery life. Children enjoy nutritious food cooked at the nursery every day, while conversations around the table help them discover new tastes, understand where ingredients come from and begin to learn what their growing bodies and brains need.

Stacey Ball, Nursery Manager at Earl Shilton Day Nursery, said:

“We’re incredibly proud, not simply because of the Strong Standards, but because the report captures so much of what matters to us.

“It talks about children laughing with their friends, being cuddled when they’re tired, growing in confidence, trying new foods and being supported as the individuals they are. Those might sound like little things, but they’re the things that make childhood special.

“This belongs to our wonderful Earl Shilton team, our children and our families. We couldn’t be prouder of them.”

There was another part of the report that particularly delighted the nursery’s leaders: staff told Ofsted that they love working at Earl Shilton and feel extremely well supported by their leaders.

The result comes at an exciting time for Earl Shilton Children’s Day Nursery. The nursery is expanding, creating more space and more nursery places for local families, while holding onto the warm, close-knit feel that Ofsted saw during its visit.