Mara Nursery

Inspection of Mara Nursery 2a Well Grove, Barnet, London N20 9BN

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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 feel welcome in this very inclusive setting. They learn about differences in people, respect individuality and develop empathy. Staff provide a very homely and caring environment. Babies and children visit the setting to help them become familiar before they start to attend. These visits are tailored to meet the individual needs of the children and their families. Babies and children settle quickly. They show how happy and safe they feel in the setting.

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The provision is good

The curriculum builds on what children know and can do. Staff skilfully introduce new learning concepts to children during activities. For example, staff help children to make autumnal wreaths by collaging with leaves. Staff support children to examine the leaves closely and identify different parts. Babies are curious and investigate different sensory bags, filled with feathers, pom poms, glitter and water. Children begin to develop their creativity and develop an amazing awareness of the world around them. Staff have high expectations of children overall. Toddlers talk confidently to visitors and describe the different hats they wear and offer the inspector one to wear too. Children behave well. They follow daily routines and happily help to tidy away their toys. Children learn to share resources with their friends. Older children learn to be patient and understanding of younger children.

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need to do better?

n The senior managers are ambitious for all children. Staff are swift to intervene when children are not progressing as expected. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive good support. Staff work very closely with other professionals to provide a shared approach to children's learning. The manager uses additional funding effectively to help children make good progress. n Children are building good levels of communication and language. They use a wide range of vocabulary and are given time to answer the questions staff ask of them. Children are expressive and imaginative. They use their recall and memory skills as they eagerly discuss the different worms they find in their home gardens. n Children have good physical skills. Babies learn to feed themselves using a spoon and drink from feeder cups. Older children become independent, self- serving their own hot lunches and using cutlery to eat together at the table.

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need to do better?

Staff ensure that children play each day outdoors. Children's individual dietary needs are catered for very well. n The manager supports staff very well and shows a genuine care for their well- being. She supports them to manage their workload and provides them with ongoing opportunities to progress. Staff regularly meet with the manager to share feedback, set goals for the future and discuss training needs. Senior staff

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need to do better?

31 October 2022 disseminate new training information to other members of staff during weekly meetings. n Parents are very positive about the communication they receive from the staff about their children's progress. They explain that they feel relaxed leaving their children at the nursery because they feel their children are safe. Parents are very pleased with the progress their children make. They describe how 'staff go above and beyond to support their children's learning.' n Older children learn to recognise and write the first letters in their names. Staff promote children's love of books. They enthusiastically respond to requests to share and read stories. Staff use good intonation, and children are very motivated and engaged as they become engrossed in the story. They display good memory skills, as they recall the story. However, staff do not use this time to build on older children's knowledge of letter sounds. This does not fully

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need to do better?

embed learning and maximise progress for children's literacy skills. n Children enjoy creative play. They are focused and engaged as they make pizza dough. Children explain their ingredients to staff, who show children the recipe cards. Overall, staff introduce children to mathematical concepts. Staff introduce new vocabulary, such as 'refill, pour and empty', when making dough for their pizzas with older children. Toddlers try on various-sized hats and roll balls down the slide. However, staff do not take these opportunities to further younger children's mathematical skills routinely throughout the day.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager implements robust recruitment, induction and supervision procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children and understand their role. Staff are well trained in safeguarding children. They understand their role and the procedure to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare or the behaviour of a colleague. The deployment of staff is well organised so that children are always supervised. They implement effective risk assessments that help to ensure children can play in a safe and secure environment.

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should:

n enhance the curriculum for mathematics, providing younger children with more opportunities to explore numbers, patterns and mathematical language n use opportunities as they arise to encourage older children's literacy development, to extend their learning further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2594888 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10249055 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 100 Number of children on roll 104 Name of registered person Covent Garden Children's Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07985 137734 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Mara Nursery registered in 2020. It operates from Whetstone, in the London Borough of Barnet. It opens from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 to level 6. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation and had a long discussion with the manager. n Parents shared their views of 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

31 October 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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