Little St Pancras Nursery

Inspection of SPCA Nursery St Pancras Community Centre, 67 Plender Street, LONDON NW1 0LB

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Staff provide a welcoming atmosphere that helps children settle into their new environment. Staff are kind and nurturing and support children with their individual needs. Children develop positive relationships with the staff and know who to go to for comfort and reassurance. Staff carefully plan the curriculum based on their understanding of children's development and current interests. Children explore their environment independently and choose from a good selection of activities and resources inside and outside that meet their learning needs. For example, children explore the uses of different types of telephones, keyboards and calculators. However, at times, changes to routines and activities mean that children are not purposefully engaged in learning and begin to wander aimlessly.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff are good role models who provide consistent guidance and strategies to promote positive behaviour. For example, children learn how to share resources and take account of other children. Staff have a high regard for ensuring children feel safe and cared for at the nursery. Children have access to water bottles and help prepare healthy snacks. Staff do not always model good hygiene practice to minimise the risk of cross-infection. Staff introduce children to a range of fruits and vegetables and encourage them to peel and cut fruit for snacks. Staff do not always develop communication skills effectively. Most children make typical progress in their learning and development. The manager works effectively with external agencies and families. Staff gather information on children's skills and understanding, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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need to do better?

n Children and families are warmly welcomed into the nursery. Staff provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere for children to play and learn in. n Children have good opportunities to be physically active. They manage risk well as they carefully negotiate challenging climbing equipment in the outdoor area. n Children with SEND and those in receipt of additional funding are assessed quickly and programmes to support their development are implemented. n Children behave well and demonstrate a positive attitude towards staff. They feel secure and are learning simple rules. Staff support children's behaviour; they offer praise for children and give gentle reminders to walk inside. n Teaching is not consistent across the nursery. The manager does not ensure that the supervision of staff is used effectively to identify aspects of their work that need support and development in order to ensure children are always fully

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need to do better?

engaged in purposeful activities. n Staff provide opportunities for children to be physically active in the well- resourced outdoor area. Children display good levels of energy and physical

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need to do better?

9 October 2019 competence as they climb, push themselves round in cars and search for hidden objects in shredded paper. n Staff do not encourage children who are learning English as an additional language to use and explore their home language as part of their play and daily experiences in order to help their language development further. n Parent partnerships are good, and parents speak highly of the nursery. They feel staff are friendly and approachable. Children's progress is shared with parents. The nursery communicates well with parents through a range of methods, such as newsletters and having an open and transparent approach to discussion. n Staff do not consistently challenge all children to extend their communication and language development further. For example, during a fruit-cutting activity, staff do not use this opportunity to introduce and model new vocabulary to encourage children to practise and improve their communication skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff do not manage children's well-being consistently. They do not always support children to follow simple procedures to maintain good health, such as washing vegetables and washing their hands before eating.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The staff team has a secure knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures to follow if it has a concern about a child. Staff are highly aware of indicators that children and families may be in need. Staff are aware of their responsibilities to prevent children being drawn into situations that may put them at risk. Procedures for recruitment and selection are robust in ensuring the suitability of staff.

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should:

n review and improve the organisation of the learning environment and deployment of staff to help children become more fully engaged in purposeful play and learning at all times of the day n give children who speak English as an additional language further opportunities to use and explore their home language as part of their nursery experience n provide children with higher levels of challenge during adult-led activities to help them build on their communication and language skills n maintain the daily procedures throughout the nursery so that the health and well-being of all children are consistently promoted.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY545895 Local authority Camden Inspection number 10099421 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 3 Total number of places 22 Number of children on roll 17 Name of registered person St. Pancras Community Association

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reference number

Telephone number 020 7380 1501 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

SPCA Nursery registered in 2017. It operates from a self-contained group room within a community centre in Camden, London. The nursery is open Tuesday to Thursday from 9.30am until 2.30pm during term times. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two and three years. There are four staff who work directly with the children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and manager conducted a learning walk in all parts of the nursery to understand how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held meetings with the management team. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents and considered their comments. n The inspector looked at the nursery's policies and procedures, including the suitability of staff.

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Inspection activities

9 October 2019 We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

9 October 2019 regulates and inspects to 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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