Clerkenwell Mount Day Nursery and Pre School

Inspection of Clerkenwell Mount Day Nursery and Pre School 27-29 Amwell Street, London EC1R 1UN

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Staff are passionate about ensuring that children feel a sense of belonging at this inclusive and welcoming nursery. The environment reflects this, as it feels homely and inviting. Staff develop secure and supportive relationships with children. They listen to children and respond to everything they say with warmth and enthusiasm. This builds children's confidence and self-esteem, which is evident as they interact with visitors and freely share information about themselves.

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The provision is good

Staff plan the curriculum around what children need to learn next, supporting their progress through child-led play. They thoughtfully organise the learning environments based on children's ages. This enables staff to provide targeted support appropriate for children's stage of development. For example, babies have a wide range of sensory toys to ignite their curiosity and encourage them to explore. Staff skilfully use these resources to interact with babies, and they respond with giggles of delight.

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The provision is good

Staff act as positive role models and share high expectations of children's behaviour. Children are quick to respond to instructions and reminders about the rules in the nursery. For example, staff remind children to put their toys away once they have finished playing with them. Staff support children to develop important social skills such as sharing and taking turns. This is seen as older children play cooperatively with construction toys, sharing resources and showing an interest in each other's creations. Children make positive behaviour choices, and the environment generally feels calm and purposeful.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are highly present in the nursery. They have effective oversight of staff's practice and support them to develop through effective coaching and modelling. Staff are passionate about their roles and in ensuring that staff feel valued. Staff share that they feel heard and that leaders are approachable and supportive. n Staff know their key children very well and talk proudly about their progress. They use a 'buddy system', which is highly effective in ensuring that each child has a secondary caregiver who also knows their individual needs and interests. This provides children with consistent and familiar support. n Staff provide a commentary during children's play, modelling language and new vocabulary. For example, they introduce children who speak English as an additional language to the word 'snail', repeating this several times during a drawing activity. However, staff do not always give children enough time to

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need to do better?

respond to their questions, and the talk can be too adult-led. This sometimes limits children's ability to share their own thoughts and ideas. n Staff use their home languages to support children who speak English as an

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need to do better?

28 July 2025 additional language in the setting. For example, staff members talk to children in French and English to help them understand instructions. However, staff are not always clear with children about what is happening next. This can be confusing for children, particularly those new to speaking English. n Staff support children to develop their independence skills as they progress through the nursery. For example, babies learn to self-feed, toddlers self-serve their own meals and older children clear their plates away after lunch. As such, children are well equipped to meet their own needs in readiness for school. n Staff develop individual plans for children who require additional support to meet their developmental milestones. They fully involve parents and carers to ensure a cohesive approach towards shared targets. Children receive individual support and make strong progress over time. n The nursery's leaders and staff have recently received an award for helping

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need to do better?

children understand more about protecting the environment. They plan activities such as recycling with children and growing their own vegetables. Children have enjoyed visits from the local police and participated in an animal-handling workshop. Staff use these experiences to enhance the curriculum and support children to learn more about the world around them. n Staff ensure that children's snacks and meals are nutritious and meet their individual needs, including their allergies and dietary requirements. Older children can freely access an outside courtyard for fresh air and exercise. Staff talk to children about the importance of wearing sun cream. This supports children to develop an early awareness of healthy routines and self-care. n Staff build strong partnerships with parents. They invite parents in for stay-and- play sessions and share weekly summaries of the learning and activities on offer

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need to do better?

for children. Parents share that the feedback from staff has notably improved in recent months, with a better focus on their children's development. This enables them to support their children's learning at home better.

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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 give children more time to process and respond to questions and to share their own thoughts and ideas n consider how to better communicate changes in routine to children, so they understand what is happening next.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2826292 Local authority Islington Inspection number 10414603 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 55 Number of children on roll 27 Name of registered person Dicky Birds Pre School Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 020778335850 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Clerkenwell Mount Day Nursery and Pre School registered in 2025. It is located in Clerkenwell, in the London Borough of Islington. The nursery employs 12 staff, of whom 10 hold relevant early years qualifications, ranging from level 2 to level 6. The nursery is open all year round, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. It provides government-funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with language barriers or gaps in their learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector and the deputy manager carried out a joint observation of a creative activity. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of 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

28 July 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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