Foreign And Commonwealth Office Nursery

Inspection of Foreign And Commonwealth Office Nursery King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH

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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

Staff greet children and their parents with enthusiasm when they arrive at this outstanding nursery. Passionate leaders set an aspirational curriculum with a strong focus on children's overall well-being. Children flourish because staff have very high expectations, which children achieve during their time at the nursery. Staff create a rich variety of activities that support children to feel relaxed and able to access resources with confidence.

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The provision is outstanding

Behaviour in the nursery is excellent because staff set clear rules, which all children understand and demonstrate consistently. The nursery has a strong presence in the wider community and children are excited to greet the security guards working in the building. They go on daily adventures with staff to explore London. Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe. For example, they talk about the risks of the busy roads while they are on their daily 'awe and wonder' walks and find safe places to stop to look more closely at landmarks.

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The provision is outstanding

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are immersed in learning throughout the day and make rapid progress. Staff praise them for the things they can do independently, and children are proud of themselves and encouraged to do even more than they thought they could. Staff ensure that children's voices are heard and that they feel fully involved in every aspect of nursery life.

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need to do better?

n Staff are playful companions for children. Children take a lead in their play and staff act as constant communication partners. They immerse children in a language-rich environment, narrating the things they do throughout the day and modelling their thinking. This means that children are constantly exposed to new language and vocabulary. Staff animatedly retell stories, which supports children to develop a lifelong connection with books and reading. n Staff constantly promote children's independence skills through the routines of the day. They set up the table for mealtimes, placing a vase of flowers alongside the plates and cutlery. They serve their own food and pour water from a jug. Staff are excellent role models for children and teach them to understand the impact their behaviour can have on other people. For example, when children scrape their plates after their meal, staff comment that the chef will be so happy

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need to do better?

because it will make it easier for her when she washes up later. n Children remember the things they have learnt and apply this in their play. For example, when staff set a challenge to create an obstacle course, a child recalls that red and blue make purple from when they were learning about mixing colours in the morning. They explain that they want to place the coloured

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need to do better?

29 September 2023 stepping stones in the order red, blue, then purple to recreate this pattern. n Children's emotional well-being is exceptionally well supported by staff. They encourage children to decide if they want to take risks and position themselves close by so that children are safe to explore their capabilities. Children persevere when they find things hard. For example, when tackling some high steps that they need to climb to get back to the nursery, children set their sights on reaching the top without stopping. Staff celebrate children's accomplishments when they achieve what they set out to. n There is a highly effective key-person system in place and relationships are exceptionally warm. Parents give fantastic feedback about the nursery and are highly appreciative of the wide range of opportunities their children have to spend time in the city every day while they are at the nursery. They comment

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need to do better?

that their children love it here, and this is clearly demonstrated by children throughout the day. Staff create a 'day in the life' video to share with parents so they can see what it is like for their child in the nursery. n Leaders are exceptionally passionate about supporting the children, families and staff at the nursery. Staff feel that their well-being is a high priority for leaders, who regularly arrange formal supervision meetings as well as additional well- being 'check-ins', which enable staff to discuss how they are feeling and any challenges happening in their home lives, as well as at work. Staff receive a wide range of training to further enhance their already high-quality practice.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities and of the processes to follow if they have a concern about a child's welfare. They understand the importance of whistle-blowing if they have a concern about a colleague working in the nursery. Risk assessments are completed for the spaces used by children and for all trips children take in the local area. New toys are also risk assessed before being used in the nursery. Leaders carry out checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff have appropriate first-aid qualifications to ensure that they are able to deal with any accidents or incidents that may occur.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY256371 Local authority Westminster Inspection number 10309489 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 46 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 020 3780 3012 Date of previous inspection 27 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Nursery opened in 2001. It is one of several settings owned and managed by Bright Horizons. It is set in a government building in the City of Westminster, Central London. The nursery is open each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The setting is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early years education to children aged three and four. The nursery employs 17 members of staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications, from level 2 to degree level.

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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 the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at the nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 Interactions between staff and children were observed by the inspector.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a group activity. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the 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

29 September 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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