Pennywell Early Years Centre in Sunderland has received an outstanding grade across all categories in its latest Ofsted inspection, maintaining its excellent reputation for early childhood education.
The nursery, located on Portsmouth Road in Pennywell, Sunderland, was inspected on 17 and 18 June 2025 and achieved outstanding ratings in all four key areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Children demonstrate exceptional enthusiasm for learning, with inspectors noting they “skip into the nursery” and are “greeted with welcoming smiles from the staff”. The school maintains high expectations for both behaviour and achievement, with staff consistently reinforcing positive behaviour through simple praise such as “good listening”.
The nursery operates with clear routines, including a gong system to signal changeover times, which children respond to immediately, demonstrating their understanding of school expectations.
Since the last inspection, the school has reviewed and enhanced its curriculum with a “highly ambitious and creative approach to the early years curriculum structure”. Staff have identified specific knowledge, skills, and vocabulary that children should learn, ensuring this builds in complexity over time.
The school incorporates children’s interests into their learning journeys, with journals documenting “exceptional progress each child makes over a short period of time”. This includes progress in learning about other cultures and the world around them.
- Liphook Pre-School Receives ‘Good’ Ofsted Rating
- Portsmouth Student Unearths 145-Million-Year-Old Mammal
The centre excels in supporting children’s communication and language development, using various approaches including signs, gestures, and communication boards. Staff apply these methods consistently and effectively to strengthen children’s communication skills.
For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school has implemented a comprehensive early identification process. Staff observe and monitor children before evaluating any barriers to learning, working proactively with external agencies to ensure children receive appropriate support swiftly.
The school has researched its local context extensively to ensure its values align with children’s personal development needs. These values form the backbone of all school activities, including teaching hand washing, self-care, and dental hygiene under the value “we prioritise our well-being”.
Children participate in enrichment activities such as visiting the beach, collecting litter in the community, and gathering food for charities, which enhances the curriculum and enables pupils to become active citizens.
The leadership team has made strategic decisions to improve curriculum quality, with leaders described as “experts in their field”. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of child development, supported by numerous professional development opportunities.
The governing body, chaired by Margaret Parsons, knows the school well and provides appropriate challenge and support. Headteacher Ruth Williamson leads the 102-pupil nursery, which serves children aged 2 to 5.
The school maintains excellent relationships with parents and carers through well-attended “family talk” and “stay and play” events. These sessions help both the school and parents support the development of the whole child.
The inspection found that safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the school does not use any alternative providers. The facility shares its site with a registered childcare provider offering breakfast club and afternoon wraparound care.
