LAST week a Woodley nursery celebrated its artists by creating an art gallery.
The Ambleside Centre Art Gallery was opened by Cllr Janet Sartorel, Woodley Town mayor, on Tuesday, July 5.
The exhibition highlights the work being done at the nursery, which received its fifth outstanding Ofsted inspection in November last year.
Kerrie Clifford, headteacher at the Ambleside Centre, said: “Days like today when you have an event or when Ofsted come are fantastic as they give us an opportunity to acknowledge what we are doing.
“But actually what I want to acknowledge is the everyday.
“Every interaction that an adult makes here on site makes a difference to that child, and we are inspiring the children to be what they are.
“What we want for our children, and what I think we have created, is the opportunity for them to be independent lifelong learners.”
The nursery is divided in two with the Pastures offering care and education aged three months to three years, and the Meadows aged three to five.
The temporary gallery combined a mix of art, with sculptures, paintings and other crafts on display, created by all the children.
Rhiannon Clamp, co-chair of governors at the nursery, believes the gallery shows the work being done by staff to create a positive and creative environment.
She said: “I know just how hard the whole team works each and every day to provide an outstanding experience for our young people.
“I’m aware how tirelessly Kerrie has worked in particular steering both Meadows and Pastures through covid times and seeing the provision not just surviving, but thriving.
“We have a unique setup here at Ambleside with fantastic premises and passionate staff to guide our children to become resilient, independent and collaborative learners.”
The Ofsted Inspector reported that “children love their time in this happy, welcoming and inclusive school”.
The report continued: “Children move eagerly and confidently from one high-quality activity to the next. They behave exceptionally well because they are engrossed in what they are doing.
“Children are very safe in the school’s nurturing and well-organised environment. The warm and trusting relationships they develop with adults help them to feel valued and secure.”
Cllr Sartorel described the inspection result as a “wonderful achievement”.
