Kindergarten in the Wood

Inspection of Kindergarten in the Wood 37-41 Grove End Road, London NW8 9NG

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Inspection date: 2 March 2022 - 14 March 2022

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Arrangements for the leadership and management of the setting are not safe. The provider does not have adequate knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures. This includes management of allegations against staff and when to inform relevant agencies. This lack of knowledge places children at risk of harm.

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The provision is inadequate

Children are settled and staff are friendly and caring; this helps children feel valued. Children leave their parents and settle quickly into the setting's routine. Children behave well. They show respect for others, encouraging their friends to join in and take turns during activities. Staff listen to what children say and encourage them to ask questions and talk about what they are doing and what to do next. Staff interact positively and warmly during care routines, such as nappy changing, by making eye contact and singing songs. Older children take pride when asked to be helpers and work together to carry out tasks such as laying the table for lunch.

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need to do better?

n Leaders do not have adequate knowledge or understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures to keep children safe. This seriously compromises the welfare and well-being of children and places children at risk of harm. n The curriculum is well planned and sequenced. Staff regularly observe and track children's progress. They plan exciting experiences which children engage with and enjoy. Staff know the children well and ensure that any gaps in learning are quickly identified and addressed. The curriculum is ambitious and challenging. Children are well prepared for the next stages of learning. n All children are beginning to develop their independence skills, such as putting on coats, going to the toilet and feeding themselves. Children enjoy eating the healthy snacks and lunch. They discuss how they like eating apples as it makes them 'big and strong'. However, during mealtimes, children's independence skills

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need to do better?

are not always fully promoted and they can spend a long time waiting and are not always fully engaged. n Children are curious and motivated to learn. They are eager to use different resources across the setting. Babies explore with bubble wrap; they enjoy crawling over this and are excited when the bubbles 'pop'. Toddlers enjoy playing outside, learning to balance and playing with sand. Pre-school children use jugs and cups to pour, fill and measure water, experimenting what happens when they mix different colours together. They comment when it changes colour and if it has become darker or lighter. n Partnerships with parents are good. Staff update parents on what their children have done through daily discussions. Learning is shared via an online system,

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need to do better?

2 March 2022 which parents comment as being 'amazing'. Parents share ideas on what to plan next. Parents feel supported by the setting, especially during transitions and the settling of new children. n The manager and staff work well together. They have high expectations of all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who have English as an additional language. They work hard to ensure children's needs are identified and that they receive early input. All children make good progress in relation to their starting points. n Children of all ages develop their physical skills well. Babies learn to sit up, crawl and walk confidently. Older children throw, run, jump and learn to balance on stepping-stones. Staff provide opportunities for children to strengthen muscles in their hands. They draw shapes in the sand, press buttons and use jugs and cups to pour water. However, there are not enough opportunities for children to build

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need to do better?

on this and develop their early writing skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Senior leaders' understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures compromise children's overall safety. The provider does not have sufficient knowledge and understanding of how to manage allegations and when to notify the relevant agencies. Storage of important documents relating to historical safeguarding incidents are not kept securely and are not accessible. This impacts on children's overall safety. All staff, including the manager of the setting, have completed safeguarding training. They know the signs which may indicate a child is at risk of abuse or neglect and how to report such concerns to the appropriate agency.

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Due date

improve knowledge and understanding of procedures relating to the management of allegations against staff, including when to notify the relevant agencies 11/04/2022

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Due date

2 March 2022 ensure records are accessible and available, and that confidential information about staff and children are held securely 11/04/2022

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Due date

improve knowledge of events that need to be notified to Ofsted. 11/04/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 135095 Local authority Westminster Inspection number 10238320 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person United Synagogue

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reference number

Telephone number 020 7286 3859 Date of previous inspection 5 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Kindergarten in the Wood is situated in a synagogue in the London Borough of Westminster. The nursery is open for 45 weeks of the year, from Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm, and on Friday from 8am to midday. The provider is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The provider employs 14 staff on a full- and part-time basis.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager led the inspector on a learning walk and told the inspector about what they want children to learn at nursery. n The manager carried out a joint observation with the inspector. They looked at how well practitioners teach and what they want children to learn. n The inspector held discussions with leaders, managers and staff. n The inspector observed children at play throughout the nursery, both indoors and outdoors. n The inspector spoke with parents and gathered their views about the experiences of the setting. The inspector also viewed written feedback from

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Inspection activities

parents. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector looked at documentation relating to the suitability of those working with children, such as their qualifications, first-aid certificates and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

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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

2 March 2022 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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