The head of school Sarah Jupe-Byrne

THE head of school at an “exceptional” rated nursery said she felt like she had been to the Moon and back during an inspection by the education regulator Ofsted.

Staff at Dorothy Gardner Nursery School said they had shed “tears” of joy after getting the highest rating in all categories, a rare achievement for a maintained nursery school and one of the few in the country to receive such a result.

The exceptional rating is part of a new grading system introduced in February.

Head of school Sarah Jupe-Byrne told Extra the nursery had been on a “big journey” and the result was “absolutely amazing”, and added: “It’s hard to put into words what it is like going through Ofsted, you feel like you’ve been through some trauma, or go to the Moon and back, like you’ve left normality completely.

“Unless you’ve been in education and been through Ofsted I don’t think people really understand what it’s like.”

Jupe-Byrne said inclusion was at the heart of everything the school did and that the result was a testament to the nursery’s hardworking and dedicated staff.

“It can be so difficult and such a struggle for parents and we take them on such a big journey when they first come to us,” she said.

“A lot of them have a lot of complexity going on in their lives.

“To get to the point where they feel they belong, and their child feels accepted means everything.

“This is a credit to how much the staff care and how resilient and strong they have been through this process.”

The Ofsted report praised the Shirland Road nursery’s approach to “inclusion”, saying all children, regardless of the barriers they faced, were able to learn and thrive.

It also praised the school’s work in the wider community and the extra support it provided to families, including access to food vouchers, clothing and furniture as well as midwifery and counselling services.

Pupils enjoy a wide range of visits to places of interest including trips to the zoo, Winter Wonderland and the cinema, the report said.

The nursery also holds a carnival that celebrates the school’s diversity.

The report stated: “Staff are committed to the school and its approach. They are passionate that all children will achieve ‘no matter what’.

“Staff described a culture of support where help is always available, workload is manageable, and protected time at the start and end of the day is valued.

“Leaders have worked effectively with the local authority to increase access to specialist resourced provision within federation schools, helping to ensure continuity of support for children with SEND [special educational needs and disabilities].

“Dorothy Gardner is an exceptional nursery that has a transformational impact on the lives of the children and families it serves. The children, their families and staff all grow and develop here and the school is truly a unique place to be.”