Aberdeen Park Nursery

Inspection of Aberdeen Park Nursery 143 Highbury New Park, London, Islington N5 2LJ

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children arrive at the setting excited and ready to learn. They spend a lot of time outdoors in the nursery garden where they confidently explore the nursery environment and demonstrate that they are active in their learning. They are curious and move freely between activities, selecting things that interest them and joining activities with their peers and staff. They are highly engaged in what they are doing and are supported to guide their own play and learning. For example, in an activity in the garden, children act as vets. They introduce themselves as a doctor, followed by their name. They make medicine for poorly animals. A child acts as the receptionist, typing on the laptop she created out of cardboard with a staff member earlier in the day. Staff support children by asking them questions and modelling language associated with the activity. Children excitedly hurry off to pretend to X-ray an animal that has hurt its leg and organise the animals in the

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The provision is outstanding

cages based on the type of animal they are. For example, all the 'big cats' are together. Staff skilfully support children's ideas and use a variety of teaching methods, for example modelling language, introducing new words and questioning.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are supported to be very confident and resilient. They are encouraged to have a 'can-do' attitude and to be active in their own learning. Children are supported to take risks and problem-solve. For example, children spend time making potions in an activity aimed at developing their hand-to-eye coordination and fine-motor skills. Staff ask children questions to encourage them to talk about what they are doing and use mathematical language. For example, they ask how much water can be poured into the cup before it overflows.

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need to do better?

n Staff demonstrate that they are highly skilled and passionate about their role. They use a variety of teaching methods to support children to be highly engaged in activities, learn and make rapid progress. They plan and implement extremely interesting, fun and stimulating activities for children to enjoy taking part in. Children demonstrate a wealth of learning, for example, by reciting familiar songs, stories and activities. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff work with parents in harmony to best support the children to make excellent progress and achieve their full potential. Communication between the setting and parents is highly effective. Parents feel well informed about their child's time in the setting and how to support their learning and development at home. Parents are extremely complimentary of the nursery. For example, one parent says: 'The nursery takes an impressively creative approach to early years education.'

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need to do better?

n Parents praise the passionate and dedicated staff team and value the bonds their children have with the staff. The staff's intent to create a home-from-home

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need to do better?

2 August 2022 environment is achieved as parents comment on the homely feel the setting has, which supports children to feel very settled, safe and content. n The leadership team is well established and extremely supportive of the staff team. It strives to continually improve practice and support all children. Staff attend regular training to enhance their skills and knowledge of their role and how best to educate young children, and this is reflected in the practice. n Clear intent and implementation of a high-quality, well-planned and carefully thought-out curriculum has a great impact on the children and their learning and development. Children are curious, inquisitive and highly motivated learners. n Staff's interactions with children are exceptional. They respond sensitively to the children and communicate with them in a variety of ways. Children's speech and language development is prioritised in the nursery and staff are highly skilled

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need to do better?

and effective at supporting children to acquire language. They use a variety of communication methods to support all children to make superb progress in their speech and language development. n Children are supported to be independent and persevere in tasks. The youngest children are supported to learn to feed themselves with cutlery. Staff are responsive to children's needs and intervene when needed, for example when a baby makes a noise because she cannot reach her water bottle. Older children are independent in setting the table for lunch with plates and cutlery. They serve their own lunches, use cutlery to eat and scrape their plates when they are finished. Children are sensitively supported to follow excellent table manners.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff and managers understand their responsibilities with regards to safeguarding and keeping children safe. They know what to do to identify any concerns and the actions to take if they have a concern about a child. Children's safety and well-being are prioritised by the setting. The staff appropriately supervise the children, both in the garden and indoors, and adhere to the statutory requirement for ratios. They know the children extremely well which helps them to notice any changes in a child that may indicate they are at risk of harm. All staff know the whistle-blowing policy and how to contact the local authority designated officer if required. The designated safeguarding lead for the nursery knows what to do if concerns are raised to her and is confident in the process that should be followed.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 131659 Local authority Islington Inspection number 10138050 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 40 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Aberdeen Park Nursery

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reference number

Telephone number 020 7226 2610 Date of previous inspection 25 September 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Aberdeen Park Nursery registered in 1994. It is located in Highbury, in the London Borough of Islington. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm, apart from Wednesday when the nursery is open from 8am to 5pm, for 48 weeks of the year. It receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children. There are 10 members of staff working at the nursery. One member of staff holds early years professional status and one holds qualified teacher status. All the remaining staff hold relevant qualifications to at least level 3.

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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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed all areas of the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager led the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about what they want children to learn. n Children shared their views with the inspector. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n Parents provided the inspector with oral and written feedback. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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 August 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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