Making an Ofsted inspector cry is probably not high up on the list of ‘things to do during an inspection’, but for Outstanding-rated Manor Wood Primary School in Leeds, it was actually a good sign. ‘Our early years area doesn’t look anything like a typical Reception class,’ says Hilary Murtagh, the school’s Foundation Stage leader. ‘When the Ofsted inspector came in, she was so stunned by it, she cried.’
Manor Wood’s Foundation Stage Unit brings together nursery and Reception children in one purpose-built space. ‘We decided to put the two together to share good practice,’ says Murtagh. The shared environment also allows the school to offer a wider range of resources. ‘If we were a separate nursery and Reception, we would have to replicate areas, so there would be sand in both and water in both, for example,’ she explains. ‘We wanted to be a bit more creative with what we offered.’
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