Toad Hall Day Nursery is celebrating a positive Ofsted inspection, which took place on 21 August 2026, recognising the nursery’s nurturing approach, strong relationships and commitment to helping every child flourish.
The inspection highlighted a setting where children feel safe, happy and confident, with inspectors finding that children “flourish and receive deep learning experiences”. Children are encouraged to explore, follow their interests and develop independence through everyday experiences, while learning at their own pace.
Safeguarding standards were met, with inspectors recognising an open culture where safeguarding is seen as everyone’s responsibility. Inspectors also identified five areas of provision as demonstrating a ‘Strong standard’: Achievement; Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines; Children’s welfare and wellbeing; Inclusion; and Leadership and governance. Curriculum and teaching were identified as meeting the ‘Expected’ standard.
Children’s achievement was judged to be a ‘Strong standard’, with inspectors praising the depth of learning experiences and the way leaders prioritise education.
At Toad Hall, children’s individuality is celebrated, with staff responding to their interests, needs and stage of development. Learning builds on what children already know, with familiar stories revisited to help them consolidate their learning and make new connections.
This thoughtful approach supports children as they develop confidence and prepare for their next steps, including the transition to school.
Independence is woven into daily routines at Toad Hall. Young toddlers take part in their own handwashing routines and collect their drinks, while older children confidently carry their dinner plates and scrape away leftover food after meals.
Inspectors also highlighted the kind and respectful relationships between children and staff. Children are encouraged to communicate, collaborate and develop friendships, with staff modelling positive language and supporting them to navigate different situations together.
Curiosity is at the heart of learning at Toad Hall, with a carefully sequenced curriculum that encourages children to explore, investigate and make connections across their experiences.
Music, songs and rhymes play an important role of supporting communication, language and emotional wellbeing, while shared stories help children to build vocabulary and connect new ideas with what they already know. Everyday play also creates opportunities to develop mathematical understanding through discussions about colours, shapes, size and position.
Children are encouraged to talk about their emotions, experiences and interests, helping them grow in confidence, express themselves and learn to listen to others.
Children’s welfare and wellbeing was judged to be a ‘Strong standard’, with inspectors praising staff’s knowledge of each child and the nursery’s effective key-person system.
As a result, children develop secure bonds with familiar adults and confidently Seek support, reassurance and comfort from trusted members of staff when they need it. These positive relationships extend to families, with inspectors describing family connections as “deep-rooted throughout the setting”.
Staff work closely with families to support children’s development and wellbeing, including promoting healthy eating habits. Children are encouraged to explore new foods, with staff and families working together to create positive experiences that can be continued at home.
Toad Hall’s inclusive approach was also recognised as a ‘Strong standard’. Inspectors highlighted how staff identify children’s needs early and adapt activities and support to reduce barriers to learning. This includes providing tailored educational programmes and additional resources to help every child thrive.
Leadership and governance was judged to be a ‘Strong standard’, with inspectors praising proactive leaders who champion children and support their team.
Staff benefit from supervision, opportunities to develop their skills and manageable workloads, while leaders also share their knowledge and good practice with other early years professionals in the wider community.
Alongside its strong Ofsted outcome, Toad Hall is also proud to hold Eco-Schools Green Flag with Merit accreditation recognising its commitment to sustainability and helping children learn about the environment through everyday experiences.
"We are incredibly proud of this positive Ofsted outcome and the recognition it gives to our dedicated team. Achieving Strong judgements across five areas reflects the passion and care our team bring every day to create a nurturing environment where children feel happy, safe and supported. We would also like to thank our families for their continued trust and support."
We would love to welcome you for a visit. Come and meet the team, explore the nursery and discover how Toad Hall supports children throughout their early years journey.
Want to read more?
You can find the full Ofsted report for Toad Hall Day Nursery here.