Nursery with ‘magical play areas for children’ gets Ofsted’s top rating

Explorers Elm Park, which opened in 2000, offers early years education to children aged between 2 and 4.

It received top marks from the regulator, which recently published its report, for putting “children at the heart of everything” and being well organised to provide “magical play areas” for kids.

Toddlers engaged in a session conducted by a staff member (Image: Explorers Elm Park)

Ofsted inspectors observed that the nursery had a welcoming and interesting environment where kids were deeply engaged in their learning.

The curriculum was said to spark children’s curiosity and promoted their physical and social skills.

The report added: “For instance, children regularly take part in science and cooking sessions, where they predict, anticipate and experiment. Pre-school children act out a story that they wrote themselves.”

Children take part in activities that improve their physical and social skills (Image: Explorers Elm Park)

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Inspectors commended staff for weaving mathematical concepts into children’s play naturally and encouraging empathy among pupils.

The children were praised for being well-behaved and respectful, and the report credited the nursery’s calming techniques for helping them stay composed.

The safeguarding arrangements at the nursery were also found to be effective with clear policies followed by staff in case of any safety concerns.

Rachel Lee, nursery manager, told the Recorder that she is “thrilled” with the Ofsted rating.

She said: “I am incredibly proud of the staff’s hard work and dedication to make Explorers a fun, safe and nurturing environment for all the children.”