Sheffield Hallam nursery rated outstanding by Ofsted

27th July 2023

Sheffield Hallam University’s Collegiate Nursery has been rated outstanding by Ofsted and praised for providing an inclusive and supportive environment where children thrive.

Ofsted visited the nursery in June to look at its overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management. The nursery was rated outstanding in all areas.

Inspectors praised the nursery’s ambitious and challenging curriculum as well as the excellent support for children with special educational needs or disabilities. High quality interactions between staff and children ‘motivates them to learn and reflects in their highly positive behaviour’.

The report outlines that the children ‘thoroughly enjoy the activities and experiences that are on offer to them’ noting they have many opportunities to experience the real world and develop skills for their future lives.

These range from hatching their own chicks to creating embroidery artwork. The children also have intergenerational visits with a local care home, to help them to develop confidence and a growing understanding of the world around them.

Nursery manager Jackie Rhodes said:

“I am so thrilled with the judgement of outstanding. It highlights the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm the staff have working at the Collegiate Nursery.

“I am so very proud that the inspector could see the children thrive at our caring and nurturing nursery. I am also delighted that our exciting curriculum was recognised in particular language and mathematics, allowing children to develop and learn skills for their future.”

The nursery at Collegiate provides care for the children of Sheffield Hallam students, staff and wider community.

It is managed alongside The Meadows Nursery in Shirecliffe, a partnership led by Sheffield Hallam University with Save the Children UK, Watercliffe Meadow School and Sheffield City Council.

The Meadow’s is home to Early Years Community Research Centre, which is a hub for innovative early years learning and care, alongside multi-disciplinary on-site research, bringing together academic research capacity, community-focused education and care.Expertise and support around leadership and management developed through the establishment of the Early Years Community Research Centre, has been shared across both nurseries to provide staff development opportunities and share best practice. 

Professor Sally Pearse, Director of the Early Years Community Research Centre and Strategic Lead for Early Years at Sheffield Hallam said:

“I am truly delighted that Hallam nursery has received this judgement. The closer links we have forged between the Institute of Education and the nursery has provided amazing opportunities for our students and academics and has allowed us to share the latest research with the teams in our nurseries. I believe that this outcome will further strengthen these links and the exchange of knowledge and expertise.”

Read the full report.