A nursery’s “hard work” has seen it vault from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘outstanding’ in one year.

After an inspection in December 2022 Ofsted dropped Daybreak Nurseries, in Shepherd’s Lane, Rickmansworth, down a grade from ‘good’ over “inconsistencies in teaching”.

As soon as the report was published, staff told the Watford Observer that they were already taking steps to improve. These have clearly paid off as its latest report published this month certified it as ‘outstanding’.

Nursery manager Leonie de Valll said: “We've worked exceptionally hard to provide the highest levels of childcare, and for this to be noticed by Ofsted really means a lot to us.

“We are dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child under our care, and this recognition validates our team's efforts.”

Giving the provider Ofsted's top grade in every category as well as overall, the inspector described Daybreak as a “calm and interesting environment, where children's curiosity allows them to deeply engage in learning safely”.
Watford Observer: The nursery is located behind Shepherd Primary School.The nursery is located behind Shepherd Primary School. (Image: Google Street View)

They added that staff respond to non-verbal cues and follow children’s interests to “expertly” extend their learning.

The report included examples Ofsted saw during the inspection in November.

“Staff note what sparks children's interests and use this knowledge instinctively,” one said. “They add props to help children have first-hand experiences of their natural world.

“When children discover spiders hiding in a tyre, they provide magnifying glasses for children to examine the creatures further.”

Watford Observer: Daybreak Nurseries in Rickmansworth.Daybreak Nurseries in Rickmansworth. (Image: Daybreak Nurseries)

Safeguarding arrangements were found to be effective and children at Daybreak “develop a strong love of reading”.

Last year’s tough report acknowledged that the nursery has undergone a lot of changes shortly before being inspected. It said that they had been well managed but staff were apparently not being given as much support as they could have been at the time.

However, the new report praised how “as a team” staff “have worked exceedingly hard since the last inspection”.

The inspector even suggested that the improvement may not be complete yet, as the manager is “constantly” reflecting on how future improvements can benefit children.

Daybreak Nurseries, Rickmansworth, offers childcare up to age nine and has a total capacity of 70 places. It currently has 54 children on its roll.