Abbey Children Centre Nursery

Inspection of Abbey Children Centre Nursery Abbey Children's Centre, North Street, BARKING, Essex IG11 8LA

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are active and busy at the nursery. They choose from a large range of stimulating and exciting resources. Children play with staff in all areas of the nursery. For example, they sit on the floor and play with vehicles, crawl around with staff on a bear hunt and learn how to ride wheeled toys in the garden. Children are happy and feel safe. They have very strong relationships with staff who know them well.

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The provision is good

Children's language development is well supported. For example, older children listen to stories, sing songs and chat to staff. In the baby room, the youngest children clap excitedly as they sing the hello song. Children are learning to express themselves.

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The provision is good

Children are encouraged to think about their feelings. They join in with lots of activities that help them to develop self-control skills. For example, children enjoy playing with the 'attention bucket'. They learn to listen and concentrate. Staff ask the children probing questions to help them find out what is in the bucket. Children gasp with delight as they discover a stretchy ball hiding inside.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff get to know the children well. Staff conduct home visits with the children before they start at the nursery. This helps them to find out about children's previous experiences. Staff use this information to create a curriculum that considers the learning needs of all children in the setting. n Managers and staff regularly assess what children know and can do. They rigorously plan activities for children to choose from that consider their next steps. Children practise a range of skills. This supports them to meet their developmental milestones. n Managers and staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities very effectively. They identify children who may need additional support. Staff work with external agencies to ensure that all children receive early help when required. All children make good progress. n Staff support children's language skills extremely well. They engage with

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need to do better?

children in a positive way. For example, in the role-play area, children cut up vegetables. Staff support children to learn new words, such as by asking, 'Can you find the heart of the cabbage?' Children repeat the new language and use it in their play. n Managers engage effectively with external agencies. For instance, they make links with local health services and the community hub as well as with the local library. This helps families to access a range of different services. Children thrive in an environment that considers all their needs.

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need to do better?

11 January 2023 n Parents report that teaching is of high quality. They talk about what their children have learned since starting at the nursery. Parents state that their children are gaining confidence and good language skills. Managers recognise that communication with parents is very important. They constantly review how information is given to parents. This includes a parent comment box, regular questionnaires and home learning packs. Managers are planning to further strengthen how they give information to parents so that all procedures are fully understood. n Managers plan professional development opportunities for all staff. Recently, this has included a 'maths for toddlers' course and music courses. Overall, this helps staff to continue to improve their knowledge of how children learn. n Managers have regular supervision meetings and regularly observe staff practice. However, the feedback given to staff does not always focus precisely

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need to do better?

on increasing and improving their individual knowledge and teaching practice. n Staff plan activities that the children are interested in. However, some focused activities do not always provide enough challenge for older children. Occasionally, some children are not motivated and excited to join in.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff team have a thorough understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe. They maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the signs that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm. The procedures for reporting concerns about children, or adults working with children, are clearly outlined in the setting's safeguarding policy. Managers share this policy and procedures with staff effectively. There are robust recruitment procedures and effective arrangements to check the ongoing suitability of staff. Managers regularly arrange training to ensure that staff can refresh their knowledge.

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should:

n further develop supervision meetings to promote the quality of teaching for all children n strengthen planning techniques to help all children to be sufficiently challenged in focused activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY297566 Local authority Barking and Dagenham Inspection number 10263302 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 92 Number of children on roll 145 Name of registered person London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

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reference number

Telephone number 020 8724 1274 Date of previous inspection 27 April 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Abbey Children Centre Nursery registered in 2005 and is situated in Barking, Essex. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year. There are 29 staff, 26 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery receives 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 Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the deputy manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

11 January 2023 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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