A council-run nursery in Bramley which faces an uncertain future has received an ‘outstanding’ report from Ofsted inspectors.
Little Owls Bramley has been rated outstanding for the quality of its education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership – an improvement on its last rating of ‘good’ back in 2018.
It is one of 12 Little Owls centres which could be taken over by other providers or merged as part of a review confirmed last month by cash-strapped Leeds City Council. These also include Burley Park and Hawksworth Wood in West Leeds.
The local authority will pull out of running Little Owls centres at Kentmere, Gipton North and Chapel Allerton in a bid to balance its books.
Inspectors praised the nursery, which is based on the Fairfield estate, saying youngsters were ‘extremely happy’ at the facility.
“Practitioners provide children with a very safe and caring environment,” the report added. “Children confidently enter and very happily access all areas of the setting. Children eagerly seek out practitioners to show them their models and artwork.
“Teaching is outstanding. Practitioners teach with passion, energy and purpose. Their interactions with children are of a very high quality and contribute well to delivering the curriculum intent.”
The report says children develop their independence from a young age ‘extremely well’ and complete self-registration using picture and name cards.
There’s also praise for children’s ‘exciting’ opportunities for play, children developing a ‘deep understanding’ of the world, links with other schools and professionals, as well as an ‘open and positive culture’ around safeguarding arrangements.
As reported by WLD, Leeds City Council is set to run a “market sounding” exercise will be held over the future of 12 nurseries in Leeds. They are: Shepherds Lane, Meanwood, St Mary’s Hunslet, Hawksworth Wood, City and Holbeck, Parklands, Quarry Mount, Bramley, Hunslet Rylestone, Osmondthorpe, Rothwell, Burley Park. Alternative providers could include schools, charities or private companies.
Childcare at nine of the centres would continue to be directly delivered by the council to ensure sufficient places for vulnerable children. They are: Chapeltown, New Bewerley, Little London, Harehills, Swarcliffe, Seacroft, Middleton Laurel Bank, Two Willows and Armley Moor.
The Ofsted report can be read in full here.
WLD reported last month on a march through Bramley by parents concerned over the threat of privatisation.
Follow WLD’s cutswatch series, chronicling local government cuts in West Leeds, here.
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