West Street Neighbourhood Nursery

Inspection of West Street Neighbourhood Nursery 1 Maxim Road, West Street, Erith, Kent DA8 1FA

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in an environment where the manager and staff work tirelessly to meet their unique needs from the start. The manager has created exceptional partnerships with parents, the local children's centre, and outside agencies. This is to secure help for the most vulnerable children at the earliest opportunity. Where help is delayed, she and the staff team take decisive action that makes a considerable difference to children's early development.

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The provision is outstanding

The manager plans a highly ambitious curriculum that staff understand and implement extremely well across all age groups. The impact of this is that all children make the best possible progress from their unique starting points. This includes the most disadvantaged children and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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The provision is outstanding

All staff are excellent role models who encourage children to learn about positive behaviours, good manners and helping their friends. They take every opportunity to encourage children to share and take turns. They help them to understand these concepts from a very young age. Children in the pre-school room are highly confident and use these skills to negotiate roles with their friends and help them to solve problems. All children show that they feel completely happy and secure in this nursery.

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need to do better?

n The long-serving manager is highly reflective. Despite current staffing difficulties, she ensures that all staff receive ongoing professional development and support. All staff, including agency staff, continually develop their knowledge and teaching skills. This results in excellent outcomes for children. n Staff implement the curriculum aims consistently throughout the nursery. They seamlessly sequence the curriculum to help children gain the knowledge and skills they need for their future education. This is particularly evident when observing what children know and can do across the nursery. By the time children reach the pre-school room, many are confident, articulate, independent and caring individuals. n Staff focus on encouraging children to learn good social skills and to gain independence. This is highly evident throughout the nursery. Babies try to put on their bibs and pull up their sleeves at lunchtime. Toddlers independently find

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need to do better?

tissues to wipe their noses and wash their hands afterwards. Most older children are extremely independent and sociable during their everyday experiences. n Staff use assessment, planning and additional funding to help most children make rapid progress in their learning. They quickly identify and close any gaps in learning, including those occurring because of COVID-19. They ensure that

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need to do better?

31 January 2024 children catch up as quickly as possible. n Staff interactions are extremely effective. Consequently, children concentrate for prolonged periods of time, including as they listen and respond to their favourite stories and songs. They remain deeply engaged in their learning experiences. n Staff provide children with extensive opportunities to communicate in different ways. Babies repeat words, such as 'pop' and 'bubble', as staff teach them how to blow bubbles. Toddlers hear and use new words, such as 'rainbow', 'fluffy' and 'squishy'. By the time they reach pre-school age, most children are highly confident communicators. n Staff instinctively know when to step in to support children's learning and when to allow them to explore and play without interruption. They are particularly skilled at this when supporting children with SEND, so these children are free to explore and engage in purposeful activity.

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need to do better?

n Staff encourage children to become highly motivated learners. For example, as children explore play foam covered in plastic film, they comment, 'Wow, can I touch it?' Staff also entice children who do not like to get messy to explore. These children become very inquisitive, and they eventually lift the film to feel the texture on their fingers and hands. All children show positive attitudes to learning. n Staff help children to develop an extremely good understanding of themselves and others. Older children help their friends to complete tasks and consistently show respect for others. Children's behaviour is exemplary given their ages and diverse needs. They are more than ready for the next stages in their learning. n The manager and staff continually provide parents with a wide range of information and guidance to support their children. Parents report that staff are highly supportive and have helped their children to improve their speech,

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY287827 Local authority Bexley Inspection number 10327767 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 86 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Pre-School Learning Alliance

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reference number

Telephone number 01322 446845 Date of previous inspection 5 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

West Street Neighbourhood Nursery registered in 2005 and is run by the Early Years Alliance. It is situated in Erith, in the London Borough of Bexley. It is open each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery is closed between Christmas and New Year, on public holidays and for three days each year for staff training. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. They also receive early years pupil premium funding. The provider employs 17 staff, including four bank staff. Most of the staff work on a full-time or term-time basis. Of these, one member of staff holds an early years degree, 10 staff hold early years qualifications at level 3 and two hold qualifications at level 2.

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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 manager showed the inspector around the nursery and explained how staff use the different areas for children's care and learning. n Parents shared their views about the nursery team with the inspector. n The inspector and the manager conducted a joint observation of a planned activity. n Children approached the inspector to talk about their interests and the activities in which they were engaged. n The manager provided the inspector with relevant documentation, including a sample of records, that the provider uses to determine staff suitability. n The inspector spoke to staff, leaders, parents, and children at convenient times throughout the day.

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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 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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