Elm Park Nursery

Inspection of Elm Park Nursery Elm Park Nursery School, 90 Clarence Avenue, LONDON SW4 8JR

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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 wave and shout with delight as they meet their friends in the front entrance. Together, they happily enter the nursery, where they are enthusiastically greeted by the acting manager. The presence of a member of staff by the front door welcoming children by name helps all children to feel safe and secure. The curriculum for children is well designed. Children settle quickly at activities that capture their interests. They show high levels of curiosity, concentration and focus. For example, pre-school children use different-coloured strings to weave intricate patterns on boards. They show resilience and the ability to problem-solve as they encounter difficulty.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good. Staff are positive role models to children. Children show an understanding of the rules and boundaries in place. For example, during a group activity, children say that they must not snatch resources from each other. Staff have high expectations of children. They promote children's independence across all areas of learning. Staff offer children lots of praise and encouragement. They tell children how proud they are of them. This helps children to build their confidence and self-esteem. Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well within the nursery. They work with parents and other agencies to ensure that children's individual needs are met.

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need to do better?

n Staff know children extremely well. They talk in detail about children's starting points in learning, the progress they have made since, and what it is they need to learn next. Children are well prepared for the next stage of their learning. n Staff deal with the care routines of young children sensitively. They sing to babies while they change their nappies. When babies cry, staff swiftly pick them up and comfort them. Staff follow children's individual sleep routines in the dedicated sleep area, ensuring that babies feel safe and secure. n The acting manager has an ambitious curriculum for the development of children's communication and language. Staff use core stories in each room and children hear a variety of songs and rhymes throughout the day. However, staff do not implement the curriculum in this area consistently across the nursery. For instance, not all staff fully understand how to use open-ended questions to allow

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need to do better?

children opportunities to engage in conversations using their expanding vocabularies. n Staff have designed the large garden area at the back of the setting to provide children with a range of opportunities. Children select bicycles and scooters and follow the painted road, learning to negotiate obstacles. At the back of the garden, children balance and climb. They assess risks for themselves as they negotiate the different apparatus. Staff enthusiastically lead children in a game

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need to do better?

10 January 2024 of 'What's the time Mr Wolf' and there is ample space for children to run away, laughing with excitement, hoping not to be caught. n Some transitions, especially those leading to mealtimes, do not always support the needs of all children. For example, staff ask younger children to sit down too early before their meals are ready. This leads to younger children becoming restless. n Staff promote children's healthy lifestyles. Children peel and cut their own fresh fruit for snack. Their meals are cooked fresh every day. Children understand the importance of washing their hands. They talk about what keeps them healthy and strong. n Children discover the world around them. They go on community walks, learning about different shops, people who help them and places of worship. Children take part in celebrations that are important to them and others. In the pre- school room during show-and-tell sessions, children share things that are

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need to do better?

important to them. This helps to give them the confidence to speak in front of their peers and to listen to and respect the views of others. n Parents speak highly of the nursery. They are happy with the communication they receive, which includes daily updates on an app, alongside verbal feedback, weekly memos and monthly newsletters. Parents comment on the relationship between staff and children. They describe how children talk fondly of their time at the nursery. n Staff feel supported by leaders. Leaders use regular supervision sessions to allow staff to discuss any concerns they have and opportunities for their professional development. Staff are passionate about investing in their own learning for the benefit of children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n develop all staff's knowledge of how to implement the curriculum for communication and language so that all children make even better progress in their language development n consider how transitions, especially those leading to mealtimes, can be managed to meet the needs of all children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY455615 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 10301204 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 96 Number of children on roll 90 Name of registered person Elm Park Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 6781990 Date of previous inspection 23 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Elm Park Nursery Limited registered in 2012 and is located in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one member of staff who holds qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for two weeks in the summer, a week at Easter and a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated acting manager about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the acting manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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Inspection activities

their views. 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

10 January 2024 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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