Rocking Horse Nursery Celebrates ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted Report

The popular nursery – located at Newbury Racecourse – recently received Ofsted’s top ranking

The Rocking Horse Nursery, the purpose-built nursery located at the heart of Newbury Racecourse, has achieved an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report. Opened in 1992, the full day care nursery – open 7:30am-6pm all year round with 160 places available to children up to four years of age – received the top ranking from Ofsted following a summer inspection after having been rated ‘Good’ in 2018.

Richard Colbourne, Manager of the Rocking Horse Nursery commented on the fantastic news: “We are so proud of this nursery. The team here, work so hard to ensure the children are at the heart of everything we do and always reflecting on how we can ensure impact is being added in to each of their lives. Ofsted’s report certainly reflects the quality of care we afford each and every child. Our parents have been a big part of this journey to Outstanding, who we work closely with to ensure we’re able to deliver quality care and education for each of our children. We’re so pleased the Rocking Horse has received the recognition it deserves!’

The criteria against which the nursery is inspected is categorised into four areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management. The nursery received an outstanding result across all areas and was deemed outstanding in overall effectiveness.

Children who attend the Rocking Horse Nursery were by regarded by inspectors as being “happy, energetic and eager to explore the environment that staff have prepared.”  Inspectors praised the “highly ambitious curriculum” created by the leadership team which through an intense focus on each child’s learning and development enables children to “learn and progress quickly.” The curriculum followed has a particular focus on the children’s development through “providing challenge and repetition to build on core skills and help children learn new ones.”

According to the Ofsted report, all children were “exceptionally well behaved,” and staff guarantee that “children feel valued and heard.” Due to the high expectations staff have for their children’s learning and well-being they “role model kindness, care and respect.” With children being able to “flourish as they explore, investigate and create during play” it is unsurprising that parents feel “extremely lucky that their child can attend the nursery.” Pupils with special educational needs were able to benefit from the “extremely knowledgeable” special educational needs coordinator (SENCo). Through networking with other professionals, the SENCo is able to “provide a team around the child approach.”

The report highlights how the “positive and warm” environment created by the leadership team enables the staff – of which there are 51 – to thrive. The support staff receive in managing their workload and well-being both motivates and inspires the staff to “plan and deliver an experience for families and children that is first-class”. Children have the opportunity to experience different events which perhaps they wouldn’t have access to at home with staff going “above and beyond.”

With extensive experience in nurturing the early development of children, the vision of Rocking Horse Nursery’s team is a simple one – to provide the highest possible quality of care for those children who are entrusted to us.

All of the spaces in the bright and airy nursery have been designed with an emphasis on natural and authentic resources to capture children’s interest while the vast Newbury Racecourse estate – which is just a stone’s throw away – means there’s plenty of opportunity for countryside walks and fresh air.

The popular nursery is currently at capacity but operates a waiting list with places on this list available to be requested via info@rockinghorsenursery.co.uk or 01635 48969.