Blythwood Community Nursery

Inspection of Blythwood Community Nursery Brickworks, 42 Crouch Hill, London, Uk N4 4BY

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are happy and well settled in this friendly and welcoming nursery. They develop affectionate relationships with staff and show that they feel very safe and at ease in their care. For instance, children include staff in their role play, confident that staff will listen to their ideas and play along. Children are friendly towards others and demonstrate good social and communication skills. Older children seek out their friends to play imaginative and physical games. During a spontaneous football game, children negotiated rules and ensured that everyone who wanted to join in could take part.

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The provision is good

Children develop positive attitudes towards their learning. They are highly motivated to explore, indoors and outdoors. The wide range of resources and activities excites children's curiosity and interest. For example, children discover different textures as they play with natural materials, such as sand. Additional resources, such as toy animals, encourage children to use their imaginations and develop their understanding of the world. Children are well supported in their learning and make good progress. This includes children who receive funding and those children who speak English as an additional language. Children acquire key skills to support the next stages in their learning and prepare them for starting school.

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need to do better?

n The manager demonstrates a passionate commitment to the staff team and the children and families that use the nursery. She recognises the challenges that they have faced during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) epidemic. The manager ensures that there is emotional and practical support in place to help staff, children and families overcome these. For example, the manager delivers food from a local food bank to families who do not have their own transport. n The manager and staff gather a wealth of information about children by observing them and talking to their parents. They plan a wide range of experiences to support children's interests, promote their learning and prepare them for later life. For instance, children have fun during sports and exercise sessions delivered by specialist teachers. These sessions help children to develop their physical skills and help to lay the foundations for healthy lifestyles.

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need to do better?

n Parents are very happy about the care and education that their children receive. They say that their children have grown in confidence and speak more fluently since starting the nursery. Parents comment that staff are friendly and approachable. They feel well informed about what their children enjoy and learn at the nursery. n Staff are professionally qualified and experienced. Generally, the quality of teaching is high. For instance, staff use questioning well to support children's

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need to do better?

27 July 2021 thinking skills. However, on occasion, staff do not adapt their teaching effectively, to make sure that all children learn as much as possible. For example, staff do not always check and clarify children's understanding or ensure that quieter children are encouraged to share their ideas. n Children are enthusiastic and active learners. They develop a keen interest in reading. Children enjoy looking at books independently and listen intently to stories read by adults. Staff ensure that there is a good selection of factual books in different areas of the nursery. This supports children to discover new information as they play and broadens their understanding of the world. n Many of the children attending speak English as an additional language. The manager and staff support them to use their home languages in the setting. For example, by using familiar words to support children's care routines. Staff also

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need to do better?

focus on supporting children's communication in English. They sing songs with children and introduce new language during their play, to extend children's vocabularies. Staff ask questions and engage in detailed conversations with children, to help them become confident talkers. n Children gain the confidence and independence they need for the future. Staff focus on developing children's personal care skills. For instance, children learn to use the toilet, wash their hands thoroughly and use cutlery to eat. Staff are excellent role models for children and manage their behaviour consistently and fairly. Children behave very well, they are kind to each other and enjoy playing together.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a clear understanding of the nursery's safeguarding procedures. They confidently describe the signs and symptoms of abuse, such as physical marks or changes in behaviour. They know what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare or the behaviour of an adult. The manager ensures that staff receive regular training to update their knowledge of a range of safeguarding issues. She carries out robust checks when recruiting staff, to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. Staff make good use of risk assessments, to ensure that the nursery environment is safe for children. The manager works effectively with other agencies and professionals to promote children's welfare and help keep them safe.

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should:

n help staff to identify ways that they can improve their teaching further, in particular ensuring that they clarify children's understanding and recognise where quieter children need more support.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551521 Local authority Islington Inspection number 10174496 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Blythwood Community Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 020 7263 5070 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Blythwood Community Nursery re-registered in 2017, following a change of premises. The nursery is situated in the London Borough of Islington. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm, all year round. The provider employs four staff members, including the manager, to work with children. All staff have a relevant childcare qualification. The manager holds early years professional status, one staff member is qualified at level 6 and the others at level 3. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the provider. n The manager led the inspector on a learning walk around the nursery, they discussed how the provision is organised to support children's care and learning. n The inspector spoke to some of the staff, children and parents during the inspection. She also looked at written comments from parents and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. They discussed the quality of education and the systems for supporting staff's professional development. n A sample of documents were viewed by the inspector, including records of staff's suitability checks, safeguarding policies and paediatric first-aid certificates.

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Inspection activities

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

27 July 2021 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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