Octagon Nursery School

Octagon Nursery School Octagon Nursery School, St. Saviours Church Hall, Eton Road, London, NW3 4SU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 February 2017 19 April 2016

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Staff are a strong team who work well together. They develop positive and effective partnerships with other professionals to improve their teaching skills and secure the extra support children require. Staff value and respect children and meet their learning and welfare needs effectively.  Children make friends with each other and show good levels of kindness and consideration towards one another. For example, they help to prepare the snack for their friends and share the food they have prepared.  The learning experiences for children are good and staff know the children very well. Planning for each child ensures they are able to take part in challenging activities to help them make good progress.  Staff are considerate and thoughtful. They understand the children well and provide them with good levels of emotional security. Children enjoy their time in the nursery.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The evaluation systems are developing but they do not currently fully include parents' suggestions to enhance the quality of the nursery's service.  Staff do not offer higher levels of learning opportunities consistently to children who are learning English as an additional language to fully extend their learning experiences.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 increase opportunities to include and use parents' ideas more effectively to help develop the childcare provision even further  consider further ways for children who are learning English as an additional language to extend and enhance their learning experiences.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play and staff interactions with them, indoors and during outside play.  The inspector talked to staff and children, and held regular discussions with the manager.  The inspector examined relevant documentation, including children's records, development plans and staff records.  The inspector talked to parents during the inspection to gather their views on the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are clear about their role in child protection matters and the reporting procedures to follow if they identify any welfare concerns. The manager works closely with staff and monitors their teaching practice effectively. She knows them well and makes changes to enable staff to work to their strengths and benefit the children's learning experiences. For example, she has changed children's focus groups and their key persons. The manager follows detailed recruitment procedures to ensure staff are qualified and remain suitable to work with children. Precise reviews of children's development helps staff to identify and address any gaps in learning promptly. Overall, staff have effective partnerships with parents. For example, staff keep parents informed of their child's daily experiences and learning opportunities. Parents speak highly of the staff. For example, they comment on the kind staff who provide

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

thoughtful care to children and their parents.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are self-assured in this busy, stimulating environment. They make their own decisions about play and involve staff in these. For example, they tell staff when they want to go into the garden area and know they need their coats on to keep warm. Staff use children's interests to extend their learning. For example, children were excited to inform staff how many birds they had seen in the garden. Staff encouraged them to name the birds and to complete a graph to show their findings. Staff help children to enjoy all forms of music. For example, children use musical instruments, laughing as they make sounds and tunes. Children are delighted to sing familiar songs. With staff's support, they move to music and laugh as they tip-toe to scary piano music.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy attending the nursery. They arrive full of confidence, ready to play and learn. Children greet their friends and staff with excitement and hugs. Staff help children who are feeling less sure of themselves effectively. For example, they use comforting words, helping children to feel safe. Staff help children to learn about sharing through practical activities, such as games, where they wait as their friends to throw the dice. Children's good health is well supported. For example, they are developing their understanding how to care for themselves and of why they should eat healthy foods. Children enjoy good opportunities to share family events with their friends. For example, they talk about the transport and how they travelled over their holidays.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning. They use their mathematical skills well. For example, they count the birds and the dots on the dice and make complex patterns with coloured cubes. All children develop good communication and language skills. They are ready for their next steps in learning and are well prepared for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY443642 Local authority Camden Inspection number 1049948 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Janette Margaret Holding

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 April 2016 Telephone number 02075863206

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reference number

Octagon Nursery School registered in March 2012 and is privately owned. It is situated in the London Borough of Camden. The nursery operates each weekday from 9am to 1pm during term times, and also operates a lunch club until 2.30pm for the older children up to three days each week. The provider employs six members of staff, including the manager. Of these, six staff hold relevant childcare qualifications at levels 2 and 3. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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