A Buckinghamshire pre-school has received a new Ofsted rating for their ‘outstanding’ education of young children.  

Holding Hands Pre-School in Old Amersham scored the highest ‘outstanding’ rating across all inspection categories - a fourth consecutive such score for the school. 

Following the inspection by the education watchdog on October 13 the school was commended for the high quality of education, pupils’ behaviour and attitudes, their personal development, and the school’s leadership and management. 

Currently Holding Hands school has 32 pupils aged two to four. 

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The inspectors said: “Children's development is monitored exceptionally closely and constantly.

“All staff, including leaders, know children incredibly well and understand how to support their learning needs.

“Their teaching is consistently of a high quality.”

Children, who are at risk of falling behind, are supported with “daily focused activities,” the report said.

Any conflicts between children, which were found to be “rare and minor”, were dealt with calmly and warmly “without raised voices.”

The inspectors found: “Children demonstrate a strong affection for their friends and are kind to each other.”

Children are “incredibly well” supported to develop their independence”, including looking after their own vegetable patch.

The report said: “They relish the responsibility of helping to prepare the fruit and vegetables they have grown in their garden for snack time.

“They select their own choices from the self-serve snack bar, pour their own milk or water and take their food to their table.”

Staff were “excellent role models”, and they give instructions followed by “please and thank you”. They fostered a love of books, which encouraged discussion with the children and performance of Gruffalo pantomime over Christmas.

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The children sent a letter to a “popular author” with images of themselves enjoying stories, and they received a personal response.

Partnership with parents was “excellent”, and guardians received personal weekly emails from their child’s key person.

The leaders of the school had chosen an online portal for learning at home, which “could be set up in different languages to help parents who speak English as an additional language.”

The inspectors found safeguarding was effective, and staff had “excellent knowledge” to recognises signs of risk of harm to a child.

The school's owner and manager Karen Hazell said: “We are beyond proud of our achievement especially as we have all gone through such choppy waters in the times of Covid.

“There was a change in the inspection criteria and to be honoured with our 4th consecutive outstanding is just amazing.

“The report is a fabulous reflection of our pre-school and the aims we strive for empowering children.”