The Rocking Horse Nursery

Inspection of The Rocking Horse Nursery 5 Victoria Avenue, Finchley, London N3 1BD

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

p.1

The provision is good

Staff help children to be happy, safe, and well settled in this welcoming nursery. They gently encourage children to separate from their parents on arrival and begin to play. Through effective assessments, staff get to know children well and ensure that activities provided are linked to children's interest and build on what children already know. For example, staff help children to learn more about similarities and differences between each other as they explore where their families come from. This helps children to remain engaged in their learning and make good progress from their starting points. This includes children who speak English as an additional language.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff support children to behave well. They help children to develop respectful and trusting bonds with adults and peers. Staff are positive role models, prompting children to say 'thank you' and 'please' where appropriate. Staff offer lots of praise and encouragement as they teach children about the new season. For example, they use cornflour to help children to form snowmen and snowballs. They support children to recognise their own achievements. Children feel proud as they show their work to staff and visitors. Staff are kind, caring and patient. They enjoy playing and engaging with children, for whom they have high expectations. This helps children to thrive.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders are ambitious and committed to providing children with high-quality care and education. They design a broad and ambitious curriculum and ensure the effective delivery of planned educational programmes for all children. Leaders have a visible presence in the nursery, which helps to support staff, parents, and their children in their journey at the nursery. n Staff help children to develop their interest in books. Staff engage children exceptionally well as they animatedly read familiar stories. Older children enjoy listening, retelling, and re-enacting stories. Babies enjoy exploring 'touch and feel' books. They learn how to hold books correctly and turn pages. Children also visit the local library. This supports their developing love for reading. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language well. They encourage children's conversations, and some staff introduce new words.

p.2

need to do better?

However, on occasion, staff ask children questions in quick succession, without providing them with time to think and respond. Staff who work with the youngest children do not always repeat key words during an activity to help them to make the best possible progress in their communication and language. n Staff teach children about healthy lifestyles, including the benefits of eating a balanced diet and engaging in physical activity. Children enjoy playing outside in the spacious garden. They use a balancing track and wheeled toys as they

p.2

need to do better?

1 December 2023 navigate and share space successfully. Staff recognise that some repeated movements, such as swinging, help soothe and relax some children and support their good behaviour and emotional well-being. n Staff provide effective support for children's fine motor development. Children strengthen their small muscles during a range of sensory and moulding activities. Staff also help children to use tools, such as knives, as they support children to cut fruits for the fruit salad. n Staff work closely with parents to ensure that toilet training is supported consistently and successfully. However, staff do not always help children to develop a secure understanding of privacy and personal independence. For example, on occasion, staff do not prevent children from seeing one another being changed. n Staff manage children's behaviour calmly and consistently. They help children to learn rules and expectations. This helps children to learn right from wrong. Staff

p.2

need to do better?

support children to take turns in their play and explore the resources provided. n Staff well-being is important to the management team. Leaders take steps to support staff and ensure good teamwork and a positive learning environment for all children. Staff comment that they feel happy and well supported. n Parents speak highly of the staff and leaders of the nursery. They know their child's key person and understand what their children have been learning during their time in the nursery. They praise how the staff prepare their child for the next steps in their learning. For example, parents describe how leaders and staff help them to fully understand the skills that support children's school readiness.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have a secure understanding of their responsibilities to keep children safe from harm. They know the signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedure to follow if they are concerned. Staff are aware of how to refer concerns beyond the leaders of the nursery if necessary. Leaders follow robust vetting and recruitment procedures to check staff suitability to work with children. All staff hold first-aid qualifications. This helps to ensure that they know what to do if a child is injured or unwell. Children receive good levels of supervision, including during eating and sleeping. This helps to promote children's physical and emotional welfare.

p.3

should:

n further support and extend children's communication and language development n review toileting routines to assure children's privacy and to further promote their personal independence.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY366697 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10320542 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 76 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person The Rocking Horse Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 0208 3463682 Date of previous inspection 16 June 2021

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The Rocking Horse Nursery registered in May 2008. It is located in Finchley, in the London Borough of Barnet. The nursery operates from 7.45am until 6.15pm, for 50 weeks of the year. There are 34 members of teaching staff. Of these, one holds early years professional status, two hold qualified teacher status, and 23 hold relevant early years qualifications from level 2 to level 7.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and the inspector discussed how the curriculum supports children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with the staff, the children and the parents during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector held discussions with the manager and reviewed a sample of documentation, including staff's qualifications.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

1 December 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6