Alpha Nursery (Eltham)

Inspection of Alpha Nursery (Eltham) 142 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SN

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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 settle well on arrival. Young children build close relationships with their key persons and learn the routines at the setting. Older children show that they are happy, as they are eager to share play experiences with the staff and their peers.

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The provision is good

Children learn to behave well and take account of the needs of others. Staff are alert to behaviour issues and support children well to help them to understand what is expected of them.

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The provision is good

Babies build on their physical skills. For example, they learn to hold on to a small cord and pull along toys as they walk. Toddlers learn to scoop and transfer natural materials, such as sand. Older children learn to operate a garden hose to fill a tub with water in preparation for their play.

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The provision is good

The management team plans a curriculum that focuses on individual children's needs and their progress. All children, including those with additional needs, are encouraged to participate in activities that challenge their learning. Older children, including those for whom the setting receives funding, are prepared well for their move to school. Parents provide positive feedback about their children's time at the setting. Parents of children who speak English as an additional language state that their children have made good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n The management team has a clear vision for children's learning and development. Assessment and curriculum planning are effective to identify and plan for children who need additional support. The team focuses well on promoting children's confidence and independence. n Staff and children have great fun preparing for a 'graduation day' to which parents are invited. Staff make use of this opportunity to teach children how to use a microphone while speaking to the audience. They celebrate children's achievements. Children feel valued and they build an understanding of what makes them unique. n Staff provide a range of experiences to help children to develop and deepen their knowledge. For example, to extend children's interest in transport vehicles, staff read related stories to them and take them on outings to watch the trains. Staff skilfully plan exciting activities, such as making transport vehicles with play

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need to do better?

dough. This motivates children, who enjoy sensory experiences, to participate in the activity. n Children enjoy sharing role-play experiences with their peers. They use available resources to pretend to care for pets and transport them in a pet carrier. Staff show young children how to change a baby doll's nappy. However, staff have

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need to do better?

4 July 2023 not fully considered ways to enhance older children's creative thinking during some activities. n Toddlers learn to recall vocabulary in context. For example, when staff show children a picture of the moon, children comment that they see the moon when they are in the garden. Staff challenge children's learning. For example, they give verbal clues to encourage children to guess what picture is next in the stack of cards. They ask children 'what do rabbits eat?' and children excitedly guess that the next picture is a 'carrot'. n Staff work closely with parents to meet individual children's dietary needs. Older children learn to serve themselves at mealtimes. Staff promote children's early understanding of a healthy lifestyle. They provide regular opportunities for children to play in the fresh air and be physically active. n Children develop a love for books. During story time, they join in by repeating

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need to do better?

familiar phrases, and learn to answer questions about the story. n Staff question children skilfully to encourage them to explore the qualities of natural materials, such as water. Children comment that the flour is 'dry' before they add water and becomes 'wet' when they add water. Staff teach children that plants need water to grow. Children build on their understanding of the natural world. n Children are mostly well engaged. However, on some occasions, when babies and toddlers are grouped together staff do not plan well enough to sustain children's interest and the environment gets noisy. n Leaders and managers supervise staff effectively and plan well for their professional development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their responsibilities to identify and refer concerns for children's welfare. They understand the processes to follow should they have concerns that a child is being exploited. Appropriate processes are in place to ensure the ongoing suitability of staff. Leaders and managers have taken appropriate steps to address weaknesses in practice. They have reviewed and improved the arrangements to ensure that children do not leave the designated areas unaccompanied. The staff team completes regular risk assessments to ensure that the premises are safe for children's use. Staff understand the setting's policies and procedures in relation to allegations.

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should:

n strengthen staff skills to plan effectively to sustain children's engagement, particularly during activities involving children of different age groups

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should:

4 July 2023 n enhance opportunities for children to actively contribute their ideas and use their imagination during activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2633234 Local authority Greenwich Inspection number 10298849 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 36 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Alpha Nursery (Eltham) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07939528678 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Alpha Nursery (Eltham) registered in 2021 and is based in Eltham in the London Borough of Greenwich. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6.30pm. There are 13 members of staff who work at the setting. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Parents shared their views with the inspector about their children's time at the setting. n The manager showed the inspector documentation as requested during the inspection. n This was the first 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 setting.

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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

4 July 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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