Abacus Ark

Abacus Ark 1-4 The Parade, Regents Plaza, Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 5TR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 August 2017 17 February 2014

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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

 Children are happy and well settled. Staff are friendly and welcoming, and they know the children well. Children build strong attachments with all of the staff in the setting.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents are very involved in the running of the nursery and often take part in activities and celebrations. For example, parents visit the nursery and carry out activities with the children on a regular basis.  The setting is well organised and stimulating. Children are encouraged to make their own choices and decisions about with what they would like to play. Children become independent.  Children are sociable and enjoy spending time playing with their peers. Staff provide children with time to play with the other age groups in the setting. They show excitement when they meet their siblings in the outdoor area.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff sometimes do not extend children's learning during planned activities, when they focus on what is planned and miss opportunities for spontaneous learning.  The leaders and staff do not yet monitor the progress of the groups of children in the setting to identify and close gaps that may emerge in their development.

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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

 make the most of all opportunities to consistently extend children's learning to the highest level  use information from assessments to monitor the progress of different groups of children to identify and close any emerging gaps in learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector took into account the views of the parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the interactions between the staff and children.  The inspector looked at written documents, including staff files, policies, procedures and risk assessments.  The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the manager, and spoke to the staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The management and staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities to record and report concerns that they have about children's welfare. The management team evaluates the setting well. It seeks the views of the parents to reflect on what it does and regularly makes changes based on what parents say about their experience of the setting. For example, the management team has developed its plans to provide children with more physical play opportunities as a result of parents' feedback. Staff are well supported in their roles. The manager regularly observes staff practice and helps them to raise the quality of their teaching. Staff are well qualified and update their knowledge regularly and take part in regular training to develop their skills, which benefits the children. For example, training on language development has helped staff to develop the methods that they use to support children with their language

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills. For instance, they have extra physical coaching to play football, tennis and take part in dance sessions. Parents are well informed about their children's progress so that they can be involved in supporting their child with what they need to learn next. This provides a consistent approach to learning. Staff have a good understanding of how children learn, and they involve them all in activities that they plan. Children develop good concentration and take time to problem solve. For example, they spend time working out how to attach a bridge to the train line, changing positions of the track to make it stable.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children show that they feel secure and they develop good relationships with all of the staff in the setting. Children behave well and happily follow instructions that staff give them. For example, they quickly become involved in tidy-up time and work together to put away the toys. Children show a good understanding of safety and clearly know how to act safely when they are out on walks near roads. For example, staff involve them well in discussing risks in the environment, and during their walks children learn to listen and not talk as they cross the roads. Children gain a good understanding of diversity and people who are different to them. For instance, they learn songs in other languages and talk about the cultural songs to which the staff have introduced them.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are keen to explore and are motivated to learn. For example, they ask questions and listen carefully as they learn how ice is made and what makes it melt. All children make good progress from their starting points. Children, including those learning to speak English as an additional language, become confident communicators. Children are well prepared for the next stage of their learning and the eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY459238 Local authority Camden Inspection number 1069206 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 89 Name of registered person Abacus Ark Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 February 2014 Telephone number 0207 625 5337

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reference number

Abacus Ark registered in July 2013. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 47 weeks a year. The nursery currently employs 13 members of staff, three of whom hold qualified teacher status. Four members of staff hold a qualification at level 6 and four hold a qualification at level 3.

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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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