Bertrum House Nursery

Inspection of Bertrum House Nursery 290 Balham High Road, London SW17 7AL

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive and flourish at this exceptional setting. They arrive happy and are eager to meet their friends and greet the welcoming staff. Staff are highly effective in creating a wealth of excellent learning experiences, indoors and outdoors. In all areas, children access a curriculum that boosts and motivates their ability to learn new skills. They quickly become independent explorers, developing their own personal interests and preferences. During activities, staff confidently model language. They talk to children about what they are doing, helping them to fully understand language. For example, staff introduce and promote new words, such as 'migration, stoke' and 'initiative'.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Staff are highly committed to ensuring that children have access to vigorous outdoor activities every day. This supports children to build confidence, independence and curiosity. Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff embed effective expectations and consistent routines, which helps children to be aware of what is expected of them. Children develop strong friendships and show respect, care and kindness to not only the staff but to one another. For instance, they demonstrate compassion as they support staff to help new children to settle without being prompted.

p.2

need to do better?

n The highly qualified staff team foster children's literacy exceptionally well. For instance, during book club, staff introduce older children to 'awesome books', which creates emerging readers who are very excited about books. Children confidently read aloud in front of their friends, which helps to strengthen their social skills. Staff use a self-registration system to enable all children to sign in by either locating their picture, their name or writing their own name in print. n Staff nurture children's creativity and imagination, such as by adding excitement when setting up the garden for children to act out the bear hunt. Children join in with gusto as they run around in the tall grass reciting "swishy, swashy, swishy, swashy". Older children hold out their hands to their friends and staff to help them to negotiate the 'thick oozy mud'. n Communication and language are key focus areas for staff. They support

p.2

need to do better?

children who are developing their early language skills to learn Makaton. Staff in the pre-school transformed the role-play area into a plane, to create an enabling environment for children to freely express their adventures of their summer break. n Staff make thorough and accurate assessments of children's learning. They use this information extremely well to plan children's individual next steps in learning through challenging activities. This supports children to be extremely prepared for the next stage of their learning, and eventual move on to school.

p.2

need to do better?

11 September 2024 n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities exceptionally well. They foster strong partnerships with parents and outside professionals. Staff source and use additional funding for specific children's individual needs to purchase carefully selected resources that extend and enhance children's learning experiences. n Staff nurture children's understanding of the world. They teach children how to keep themselves safe, such as when they access flint and steel fire starters to create a pretend campfire. Staff draw on children's growing interest and knowledge of dinosaurs, such as they create meals for the 'dinosaur coming to tea'. They discuss the migration of dinosaurs and how it happens. n Children take part in hands-on science activities, such as when they are involved in composting. They learn about the environment, recycling and reducing waste. Children use the compost to nourish their growing area.

p.2

need to do better?

n Parents and carers are very enthusiastic to share their highly positive feedback about the nursery. They feel extremely well involved and informed of their children's learning. This partnership contributes greatly to children's success at the nursery. n Staff are supported exceptionally well through a continuous cycle of highly effective supervision and training opportunities. This helps them to continually improve their already very strong practice even further. The management team demonstrates a very strong drive to continually enhance the nursery, taking account of the views of staff, parents and children. n Staff are highly skilled and sensitive in helping children to form secure emotional attachments. They provide a gentle start for children transitioning into the nursery.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY537851 Local authority Wandsworth Inspection number 10351824 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Bertrum House Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 020 8767 4051 Date of previous inspection 19 October 2018

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Bertrum House Nursery registered in 2016. It is located in Balham in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The nursery operates during term time, Monday to Friday, from 8.45am until midday, with the option to stay until 1pm for lunch club or until 3.15pm for afternoon school. The nursery employs a team of eleven staff, of whom six staff hold qualified teacher status, two staff hold qualifications at level 3 and three staff are unqualified. It offers the government funded places for childcare.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. n The inspector observed the quality of education, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector conducted a joint observation. n Parents shared their verbal and written views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector held several discussions with staff and children during the inspection.

p.4

Inspection activities

11 September 2024 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.4

Inspection activities

11 September 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.

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