The Ark Day Care Nursery

Inspection of The Ark Day Care Nursery Lea View House, Springfield, London E5 9DX

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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

Babies settle well at this caring nursery. Staff build strong bonds with them and take great care to ensure that their needs are fully met. For example, they find out about babies' feeding and sleep routines and maintain these to help them to settle well. Staff interact very warmly with babies. who respond with joy and delight. All children settle securely and are happy and confident. Staff value each child and have high expectations of them.

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The provision is good

The curriculum is broad and interesting. This helps all children to make good progress. They gain valuable skills in preparation for school. Children learn how to express themselves creatively. For instance, they enjoy making patterns in puddles sprinkled with red powder paint in the garden. They draw and paint using different tools and materials. Children gain an understanding of difference. Staff invite parents into the nursery to talk about their cultural traditions. They read stories to children about special religious festivals, such as Hanukkah and Eid.

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The provision is good

Children behave in safe ways. Staff teach children how to use tools, such as scissors, with care and caution. They teach children about road safety and children act carefully while walking outdoors. Children gain good social skills. For instance, they share resources as they take part in imaginative play and when using outdoor resources.

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need to do better?

n Children develop good mathematical skills. For instance, staff teach children different shape names. Staff use words such as 'big' and 'small' to teach children about size. Staff support children's counting skills, for example, by singing number rhymes and songs. n Children gain good independence skills. They demonstrate this as they learn how to put on their coats and shoes. At meal and snack times, they pour their own drinks. All children take part in tidying away toys and resources at the end of play sessions. n Children gain an understanding about the world. Staff plant and grow herbs and vegetables with children and teach them where food comes from. They take children on walks around the garden to find minibeasts and discuss how they live and grow. n Staff support children's communication, language and literacy skills effectively. They teach children new words, such as 'sticky' and 'cold' as they play with play

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need to do better?

dough. Staff read a variety of stories to children and encourage them to make comments. Staff teach children new words as they sing action rhymes and songs. n Children behave well. Staff share group rules with children and they know what

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need to do better?

31 March 2023 is expected of them. Staff are calm and fair, and explain why some behaviour is not acceptable. n Children enjoy a wide range of physical challenges in the spacious outdoor area. They balance and steer wheeled toys, climb up ladders and run and jump. Babies have good opportunities to crawl, pull themselves up and move in various ways. n The manager is supportive of staff and ensures that she meets regularly with them to support their work. She supports their well-being, for instance, by providing time off for staff to deal with any personal matters. n The manager is keen to develop staff's skills and knowledge. Staff attend a broad range of courses, including a course on behaviour management, which led to greater awareness in this area. n The manager reviews how well the nursery is performing on a regular basis. She identifies strengths and weaknesses and sets clear goals for improvement. For

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need to do better?

instance, the manager plans to enhance staff's understanding of how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Staff work successfully with parents. One parent said, 'Staff are very supportive and work well with parents to ensure potty-training success.' Staff provide parents with regular updates on children's activities and progress. They work very effectively with the local authority to promote best outcomes for children. n The manager promotes healthy lifestyles for children. She provides freshly prepared, nutritious meals and snacks, which meet children's special dietary needs. Staff ensure that children take part in daily physical activities in the outdoor area. n Staff have begun to teach children about how to keep their teeth and gums healthy. For instance, they talk to children about the importance of cleaning their teeth. However, this has not been fully developed to support their

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need to do better?

understanding of how to look after their teeth and gums further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are vigilant about children's safety. The manager carries out thorough background checks on staff as part of the recruitment process. Staff carry out risk assessments that cover all aspects of the nursery to keep children safe. They have a good safeguarding knowledge. Staff know how to identify and report concerns that a child might be at risk of abuse. They have a good knowledge of the procedures to follow to protect children from harm. Staff attend regular safeguarding training to ensure that their knowledge is kept up to date.

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should:

31 March 2023 n develop children's awareness of good oral hygiene further, to fully support their understanding of how to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY437216 Local authority Hackney Inspection number 10235607 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 21 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person THE ARK DAYCARE NURSERIES LIMITED

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 815 8421 Date of previous inspection 17 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The Ark Day Care Nursery opened in 2011. It is situated in Springfield Park in the London Borough of Hackney. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year, and is closed on public bank holidays. There are five staff, including the manager, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. This includes one staff member who holds a level 6 qualification in early years. The nursery accepts funding for free early years 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 nursery. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n During the inspection, the inspector went on a learning walk around the nursery with the manager to discuss the aims of the curriculum. n The inspector observed the interaction between staff and children, and spoke with children when appropriate. n During the inspection, the inspector considered the views of staff and parents.

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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 March 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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