Willow Children's Centre

Inspection of Willow Children's Centre Willow Children's Centre, 1a Holbrooke Court, London N7 0BF

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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

Children thrive in this exceptionally warm and happy nursery. Staff are skilful in responding to children's individual needs. On arrival, children happily know the routine of finding their pegs to hang up their coats and bags before joining their friends in play. Staff are fully aware of children's interests. For example, they plan the garden to provide children with joyous learning in nature. Children express their need to feed the birds, and staff join children in the large planting area. Children pick berries for the birds and share that they must not eat them as it will give them a 'sick tummy'. Children learn about the consequences of their actions throughout the day. They learn how to take risks, such as through climbing and exploring the exceptionally well-structured garden. Children have excellent attitudes to their learning.

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The provision is outstanding

Leaders are passionate about providing children with rich learning experiences within the nursery and during regular outings. Leaders and staff prioritise children's curiosity and love of learning. Children learn to be independent learners through resourceful staff who provide an exceptional learning environment. Staff give children lots of choices throughout the day. For instance, older children are responsible for supporting to arrange activities in the room each day, based on their previous learning and children's interests. Children remain deeply engaged in their play throughout the day, which supports their confidence and learning.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are exceptional in their passion for every child to reach their full potential. They provide regular and varied training for staff. This ensures that children's learning excites and engages them, while also meeting their individual needs. Leaders ensure that staff observe children effectively to assess their needs precisely and identify their next steps in learning accurately. n Staff ensure that children receive excellent learning experiences. Leaders and staff have high expectations for all children. They recognise opportunities for children, rather than barriers, and create a curriculum that meets the specific needs for every child. Leaders continually evaluate the environment and practice. They ensure that the staff team works together to provide exceptional and broad learning for every child. n Staff support children's speech and language to an excellent standard. They talk to children throughout the day at eye level. Staff give children time to process

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need to do better?

information. Children often recall information that they have previously learned. For example, children learn about the weather and share, as they look up at the sky, 'There is a storm coming.' Staff teach children new words throughout the day, such as 'beetroot' and 'magnifying glass', as they explore the compost bin. Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, learn to

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need to do better?

29 May 2025 become effective communicators. n Staff plan for children's physical development exceptionally well. Children climb the wooden wall and use the tree house to explore. They enjoy balancing on logs, which supports their balance and coordination. Staff encourage children to experiment. Children use the mud kitchen to mix mud and make cement to build walls. Children use their imagination well and build their gross motor skills. n Staff provide children with risk-taking opportunities to build their confidence. Children learn to put safety glasses on and use hammers to create mosaics from recycled tiles. Staff and children have two-way conversations about how to handle tools with care. They discuss the shapes that are newly created by the broken tiles. Staff talk to children about how to identify new shapes that have formed by counting the sides. Children engage in alternative ways of learning mathematics from these well-planned activities.

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need to do better?

n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who have gaps in their learning receive expert care and support. Leaders work closely with health and educational professionals to individualise their teaching to support children's individual needs. Staff provide parents with excellent advice and guidance to help them to access specialist services where needed. n Staff build strong relationships with children and their families. Staff understand how to support and respond to babies. This helps babies to feel safe and secure, ready to begin their learning. Staff have a deep knowledge of how to sequence babies' learning before walking. For instance, they provide tummy time and cruising opportunities to build their core strength prior to starting to walk. Babies demonstrate confidence in the room to explore and experiment, as they are provided with expert care. n Parents speak with enthusiasm about the excellence of leaders and staff. They

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need to do better?

praise how leaders and staff understand the uniqueness of their children and embrace any interests with enthusiasm. Parents appreciate the inclusiveness of the nursery and the richness of the learning their children receive to help them thrive.

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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 131749 Local authority Islington Inspection number 10380659 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 70 Number of children on roll 80 Name of registered person The London Borough of Islington

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reference number

Telephone number 020 7527 1990 Date of previous inspection 18 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Children's Centre registered in 2006 and is located in Holloway, in the London Borough of Islington. The setting is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm, all year round. Of the 25 staff who work directly with children, 24 staff hold relevant childcare qualifications. The provider offers the government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The executive headteacher and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy about the setting. n The executive headteacher and the inspector completed a joint observation of a focused activity. n The inspector spoke to staff and took their views into account. 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 May 2025 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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