Archway Children's Centre

Archway Children's Centre Vorley Road, Archway, London, N19 5HE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 October 2017 19 August 2013

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff build exceptionally strong partnerships with parents. They fully value parents' role and input in their children's learning. Staff frequently share information with them about what their children are working on. They provide a wealth of ideas that parents can use to further support their children's learning at home.  Children rapidly build very close bonds with their key person and other staff. They flourish in the staff's care and greet them with enthusiasm on arrival. Children are very happy and feel safe in the children's centre. Staff rapidly provide reassurance and comfort when needed, which helps children to quickly grow in confidence.  The management team is inspirational. High expectations motivate staff to continue to provide the highest quality of teaching. All staff contribute to the very effective evaluation of practice. The important views of parents and children are frequently

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This provision is outstanding

gathered and these are incorporated into t management's plans for further development.  Children have excellent opportunities for exercise and fresh air. They eagerly participate in forest school sessions and exploring their local area. They enjoy taking part in football sessions and using the wide range of climbing equipment at the children's centre. Children enjoy caring for plants and talk about what they need to grow. They discuss how bees collect pollen from the plants.  Children's mathematical development is fully promoted by staff. They make excellent use of every opportuntity to challenge and extend children's development. Older children count how many objects they add to a pretend potion mix and write the matching numbers. Younger children sing from five to one in their favourite rhymes.

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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

 continue to enrich the already excellent, imaginative and challenging experiences for children to further support and extend their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the children's centre manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the children's centre manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and dedicated staff team put children's safety and welfare as the highest priority. They have an excellent knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff know whom to contact in their local authority with any such concerns. They have frequent meetings to discuss and update their knowledge and training. The management team has embedded a highly effective system of staff supervision and observation. Staff identify areas where they can further develop their practice when watching recordings of their practice. With the manager, they identify training that will enhance their practice even further. This knowledge is shared between all staff to continuously raise the high standards even further.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff make frequent evaluations of children's progress and achievements. This ensures any small gaps in children's learning are rapidly identified and significant targeted support is implemented. The management team reflects on the rapid progress made by different groups of children, to maintain the excellent support provided. Staff understand the importance of continually extending the extensive range of challenging experiences for children to fully support their rapid progress. Children's early writing skills are fully supported by staff. For example, children are asked to write all the names of the items they have put into a pretend potion and write their shopping lists before pretending to buy food at the shop. Staff extend children's learning and provide children with time to work out problems for themselves. For example, children pretend a pipe is no longer working to gather water outside. Staff give prompts to support their thinking and children find the

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

solution of calling a plumber to fix the pipe.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. They rapidly learn the skills of negotiating and taking turns without prompts from staff. Younger children are given clear guidance that helps develop their understanding. Children's independence is fully supported by staff. For example, they enjoy serving their own food at mealtimes and choosing and setting out the toys and equipment they would like to play with. They rapidly learn sign language to further their effective communication with staff. Staff promote excellent hygiene practices and children quickly learn to wash their hands before mealtimes and after outdoor play. They talk to children about food that is good for them and encourage them to try food from around the world. This helps support children's understanding about healthy eating.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children, including those in receipt of funding, are making rapid progress from their starting points. Children delight in developing and extending their imaginative skills. For example, they gather a wide range of natural materials from outside. They delight in adding the materials to a large pot while pretending to make a potion that turns into a bow. Children are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage in learning and for their move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 131663 Local authority Islington Inspection number 1084166 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 76 Number of children on roll 71 Name of registered person The London Borough of Islington

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 August 2013 Telephone number 020 7527 4827

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reference number

Archway Children's Centre registered in 2001. It employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including two with early years professional status and two with qualified teacher status. The children's centre opens from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm all year round, for 49 weeks of the year, apart from two weeks over the summer and bank holidays. The children's centre provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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