Little Owls Seacroft earns strong Ofsted marks

Leaders at a Seacroft nursery have been praised for putting children’s welfare first in a new Ofsted inspection.

Little Owls Nursery Seacroft, on South Parkway, was inspected by Ofsted on May 14 this year. The nursery received a ‘Strong standard’ rating in three of the six areas checked.

Inspectors rated the nursery as strong for behaviour and attitudes, welfare, wellbeing, and inclusion. The remaining three areas, covering achievement, curriculum and teaching, and leadership, were rated as ‘Expected standard’.

The nursery was one of nine Little Owls sites named as safe after Leeds City Council reviewed its Little Owls services back in 2024.

Ofsted said leaders consistently put children’s welfare and wellbeing first. Inspectors found that staff know the children well and have built a safe and welcoming setting where youngsters feel encouraged to learn and grow in independence.

The report also highlighted how children are taught to treat one another with kindness and respect, with staff promoting positive behaviour throughout the day.

All children make the progress expected of them, the report found. Those with special educational needs and disabilities were said to be progressing particularly well, and children’s communication and language skills were developing effectively.

Staff were also praised for adapting activities so every child can join in, with leaders ensuring the setting meets each child’s individual needs.

Inspectors described the curriculum as inclusive and of high quality, adding that staff hold high expectations for what children can achieve.

There is still room for improvement. Ofsted said staff do not always make the most of every interaction to deepen children’s learning. Inspectors also encouraged leaders to strengthen relationships with parents so they better understand how to support their child’s next steps.

Leaders were said to have a clear picture of the nursery’s strengths and areas to develop, with a system in place for continuous improvement.

Good hygiene practices are also part of daily life at the nursery, with staff helping children build self-care skills such as handwashing and feeding themselves.

Overall, Ofsted found that children arrive at the nursery happy, confident and ready to learn.