The Learning Cottage

Inspection of The Learning Cottage St Bartholomew's Church Hall, 159 Ellison Road, London SW16 5DE

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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

The nursery is bright and spacious, and children arrive happy and eager to learn. Key persons recognise children's needs and are warm and welcoming. Children quickly feel safe and secure. They separate easily from their parents and eagerly join in with a wide range of stimulating activities provided. They are inquisitive, confident and independent learners. Children display a keen interest in their play and learn to make decisions about what they want to do. For example, younger children enjoy investigating what happens as they add oats to water when pouring along tubes in the garden. Children enjoy a good range of activities that staff plan through an ambitious curriculum based on children's interests and learning needs. Staff know children very well and have high expectations for all children.

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The provision is good

Children form positive relationships with staff and their peers. They behave well. Staff encourage young children to share, take turns and be kind to one another. Pre-school children recall the rules and boundaries, and many know exactly what is expected of them. All staff are positive role models. Children are supported well. This includes children who speak English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff work well with parents and other agencies to improve children's development and help them make good progress in their learning.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff provide an ambitious curriculum for all children, including those with SEND. Additional funding is used to support all children with SEND to access the learning. For example, staff adapt the role play area for children to better suit their needs and support them to invite peers to play with them. This supports all children to make good progress in their learning. n There is a strong focus on developing speech and language at the nursery. Children who speak English as an additional language make good progress with their communication skills. Staff have additional training to help the youngest children quickly learn new words. For example, they introduce new vocabulary to babies as they comment on their play at a water activity. n Staff provide a broad range of experiences that excite children and promote communication and listening skills. For example, toddlers enthusiastically join

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need to do better?

activities to support listening skills as they copy different sounds made using shakers. However, overall, staff do not consistently support children to learn words to describe what they feel and see during play. This impacts on children's language development. n Children enjoy exploring books. Older children recall previous stories they have read and talk about their favourite characters. Older children happily select books independently to look at. Staff encourage children to borrow story books

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need to do better?

5 July 2022 from nursery, particularly those who speak English as an additional language, so they hear stories in their home language read at home. n Staff encourage children to learn about similarities and differences and embrace each other. For example, parents are invited into the nursery to share their cultures and celebrations. Children recently enjoyed a visit to the temple during the celebration of Eid. This helps all children to have a strong sense of belonging. n The manager encourages her staff to reflect on their practice. She regularly evaluates the setting, and the staff work together to make changes and improvements. This is done through regular supervisions and meetings. The manager implements a strong training plan for staff to develop their practice. Staff comment that recent training about positive interactions with children has improved children's listening skills. However, at times, staff are not always

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need to do better?

deployed in the most effective way to support children's learning during their chosen play. n Partnerships with parents are particularly strong. The manager and staff pride themselves in creating an exciting and welcoming environment for children. This is reflected in the positive comments from the parents about the friendliness of the staff and the welcoming environment. All the staff across the nursery get to know all the children. This helps children and their parents to feel a real sense of belonging, right from the start.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff are confident about their safeguarding responsibilities. They can recognise the signs of abuse, including those that could suggest a child is being exposed to extreme views and behaviours, and how to keep children safe from harm. The manager and staff know where to report concerns about children's welfare to promote their safety. The manager talks to staff about safeguarding scenarios to keep their knowledge current. This helps to promote children's safety. Staff maintain a safe environment for children to play. They know what to do if they are concerned about the conduct of a colleague. Robust recruitment of staff is tightly managed. This includes ensuring staff's ongoing suitability to fulfil their roles. Children play in a safe and risk-free environment.

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should:

n support staff to extend children's vocabulary during focus activities and child- initiated play, to enhance their language skills n improve the deployment of staff to support children's learning experiences even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2561576 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 10221679 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 49 Number of children on roll 30

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Name of registered person

Loving Hands International Nursery School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07460901978 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Learning Cottage registered in 2019. It is situated in Streatham, within the London Borough of Lambeth. The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. It employs 10 members of staff, including the regional manager, who holds a foundation degree in early years. All other staff hold relevant childcare qualifications. The nursery offers funding for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between the staff and children. n The inspector completed joint observations of language activities with the manager. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation. n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector.

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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

5 July 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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