Abacus Ark Nursery

Abacus Ark Nursery St Paul's Church, St Johns Hill, London, SW11 1SH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 January 2018 Not applicable

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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

 The key-person system is working well. Children form secure attachments and settle well. They have a good sense of belonging, are happy and enjoy being at nursery.  The manager promotes a child-focused ethos, is ambitious and has high expectations for the children. The leadership team provides support and monitors staff to ensure they are confident and knowledgeable in their role.  Partnership with parents is extremely strong and staff actively involve them in their child's learning. Through daily feedback, parents' evenings, informative newsletters and play dates, staff ensure parents stay involved and know about their children's experiences at nursery.  The cohesive staff team works together and supports each other well. Staff demonstrate good role modelling and help the children learn how to care and show respect to each other.  Staff have a secure knowledge of how to promote learning and enhance language and

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This provision is good

communication, for example, through singing, stories and daily Spanish conversations. Children make good progress from their starting points.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always encourage children to complete tasks by themselves to help promote independence.  Occasionally, staff do not recognise when to encourage children to think through and develop their own ideas during activities.

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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

 create more opportunities to encourage children to develop their independence  think about ways to include children's creative ideas in the activities provided, to extend their interest and enjoyment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching across all age ranges and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the management team. She looked at relevant documentation, evidence of self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke with parents and children, and considered their views.  The inspector held discussions with staff at suitable times throughout the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and leadership team ensure staff have regular training and have a good knowledge about their responsibility to keep children safe. Staff are confident in knowing what to do if they have any concerns about a child's welfare. The management team monitors practice and uses data to provide a clear picture of how different groups of children are achieving. Regular staff supervision focuses on monitoring practice and the next steps in children's learning. Staff are given support to ensure that all children are making good progress in preparation for the next stage of learning. There are very positive relationships throughout the setting between management, the staff team and parents. This makes a very welcoming atmosphere and a great place for the children to learn and develop.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment with a good range of activities that challenges and engages the children. For example, as older children use scales and play dough, they use mathematical language, such as 'heavy' and 'light', and make predictions. Children enjoy their time at nursery. For instance, the toddlers laugh as they explore coloured foam and bubble textures. Staff enhance learning opportunities with visits from the dentist, family pet day, international food week and daily trips to the park. In addition, the high number of Spanish staff all contribute to the good quality teaching in the nursery, enriching the children's knowledge of their local community and the wider world.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff work extremely well with parents to help ensure children's well-being and emotional support are secure. Children's behaviour is good. They understand nursery rules and know what is expected of them. Staff listen to the children and promote good manners. They praise the children for their achievements and for positive behaviour. Children learn about healthy lifestyles during daily routines. For example, they pour drinks when they are thirsty, wash their hands and engage in conversations at snack times and mealtimes. Daily trips to the park, the garden and physical play room give the children the opportunity to develop their physical skills, including balancing, climbing and jumping. There are high staff ratios throughout the nursery, which help new babies settle and support the children with transitions between rooms. Staff are organised and supervise the children well.

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Outcomes for children are good

The children settle well into their age groups. They make good progress from their starting points, including those who speak English as an additional language. All children develop good communication and language as they enthusiastically join in activities. The older children are enthusiastic learners who enjoy circle time, learning letter sounds and practising early writing. These skills support them with school readiness.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY497084 Local authority Wandsworth Inspection number 1034487 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 95 Number of children on roll 76 Name of registered person Abacus Ark2 Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 0207 738 1943

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reference number

Abacus Ark Nursery registered in 2015. It is one of three nurseries run by the same private provider. The nursery is situated in St Johns Hill in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm, for most of the year. There are 25 members of staff. Of whom, eight hold qualified teacher status and the manager holds a qualification at level 6. Of the remaining staff, 12 hold qualifications at level 2 or level 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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