The Alphabet House Nursery

The Alphabet House Nursery Canberra Childrens Centre, 1 Didsbury Close, London, E6 2SX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 June 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 new manager works exceptionally hard to implement changes to help improve outcomes for children. Management uses its excellent partnerships with the dentist, nutritionist and safeguarding team to deliver parents' workshops. These provide information to families about keeping children safe and healthy.  Staff successfully engage children in interactive story sessions as they go on a 'bear hunt' through various terrains. Staff encourage children to use their imaginations well, as they shiver and pretend to walk through snow and squelch through mud.  Staff effectively develop children's good independence skills. Two-year-olds lay the table, pour their drinks and feed themselves. Staff talk to children about healthy choices and the impact food has on their body, to extend their learning effectively.  Children make good progress from their starting points and work within the development typical for their age.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff are not yet consistently recording children's development precisely enough, using the early years foundation stage.  Staff sometimes focus on moving children on to the next scheduled activity and miss opportunities to extend children's learning, when they are already highly engaged in their own exploring and 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

 continue to implement effective strategies that help to improve the way staff link observations and assessments to the early years foundation stage, to record children's development precisely  allow children time to explore and learn further, when they are already highly engaged in an activity, without directing them to scheduled adult-led activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with children, the manager, staff and parents.  The inspector and manager carried out a joint observation of a focused activity during circle time.  The inspector observed activities and play outdoors and indoor.  The inspector sampled documents, including policies, risk assessments, training certificates, children's learning records and planning.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff and students know the safeguarding and whistleblowing policies well. They have a secure knowledge of the signs of abuse and how to escalate concerns to keep children safe. The manager is extremely reflective and self-evaluation is precise. She effectively uses information from parents' questionnaires to contribute to action plans. The manager recognises areas for improvement and is implementing a range of strategies to help improve practice. For example, she is supporting staff to complete assessments accurately. The manager closely monitors staff, and uses supervision to identify training needs to enhance staff knowledge. Staff access training, such as 'an introduction to the early years foundations stage' and the 'role of a special educational needs coordinator'. As a result, the quality of teaching is improving rapidly. The manager has introduced home visits, prior to a child's first session as part of their on-entry

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

assessment, and builds strong relationships between children and their key person.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Overall, staff use observations of children's progress well, to learn about their interests and skilfully plan engaging next steps. The manager supports staff to complete a thorough progress check for children aged between two and three years. Staff inform parents of the progress that children make and share activity ideas to enhance learning opportunities at home. Staff effectively build on the language that children use, for example, staff talk to children about the 'big' and 'small' bubbles as they play with the water. Children enjoy hooking ducks in their outdoor 'tyre pond' and excitedly find fish to add, informing staff that 'sharks don't swim with ducks; fish do'.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The outdoor space is used effectively. For example, children use tricycles and tunnels to challenge their physical development. Children enjoy the smaller garden to explore nature, as they plant, dig, search for bugs and mix soil in the mud kitchen. An effective key- person system helps to ensure that children are well looked after. Staff are responsive to children's emotional needs and gently soothe children who are upset during their settling- in period. Staff set clear boundaries and children listen to staff and follow instructions well. Children display positive behaviour, as they follow the good example set by staff.

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Outcomes for children are good

Staff provide an engaging environment that motivates children to learn. Children develop a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Staff sensitively use circle time to introduce a toy animal, who does not want a cuddle, to teach the children to say 'no'. Children develop the skills needed for their next stage of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500269 Local authority Newham Inspection number 1049938 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 2 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person The Alphabet House Nursery Schools Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07714410650

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reference number

The Alphabet House Nursery registered in 2016 and is open from 8am to 6pm. It is part of and works closely with the larger chain of Alphabet House Nurseries. There are five members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 or above. The setting is in receipt of funding for two-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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