Thames Reach Nursery and Pre-School

Inspection of Thames Reach Nursery and Pre-School The Reach, Battery Road, London SE28 0NY

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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

Children happily enter this nursery at the beginning of the day, separating with ease from their parents and carers. Staff warmly welcome children by name, holding their hand or giving them a cuddle as they discuss what activity they might like to come and join.

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The provision is good

Staff plan and implement a broad and ambitious curriculum that children are curious to engage with. Babies use tools to dig for treasure in the sand tray and pour cold scented teas as part of a tea party. Toddlers use different resources to make their own shakers. Pre-school children collaboratively play a game of bowling, taking turns and using their mathematics skills to work out who has knocked down the most skittles.

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The provision is good

Staff are positive role models. Children thrive in an environment filled with praise and encouragement. They learn to be resilient and problem solve. As children finally manage to make cuts in paper after trying hard with scissors, they show immense pride in their achievements. They shout to members of staff to come and see, shouting 'I did it, I did cutting'.

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The provision is good

Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is excellent. Staff work in partnership with others involved in children's care and tailor the learning environment to ensure all children can access the curriculum on offer.

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need to do better?

n Staff at the nursery know children well. Starting points are accurately recorded and children's development is closely tracked. This helps staff to clearly understand what children already know and what they need to learn next. Staff skilfully incorporate children's interests into learning experiences to ensure they are fully engaged in their play. n The curriculum for communication and language is excellent. Babies are excited as staff begin to sing 'What's in the bag?', they crawl over shouting 'yay' and eagerly wait for their turn to take something out of the bag. Babies confidently join in with familiar nursery rhymes such as 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. Children develop a love of stories, bringing books to staff and sitting on their laps to listen to them read. Children recall familiar refrains in stories, developing their vocabulary. Older children engage in meaningful conversations with staff, sharing

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need to do better?

their opinions and developing their ideas. n Staff have clear learning intentions for children's development during small- group activities. However, they do not consistently plan effectively, and resources are not always ready and available at the start of activities. The quality of teaching varies depending on how close children are to the lead staff member

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need to do better?

14 August 2025 and when they join the activity. Some children miss valuable learning opportunities and do not receive the same level of interaction or support as their peers. n Staff are passionate about providing opportunities that enhance the experiences of all children. They make good use of their local community. For example, following children's interests in boats and pirates, staff took children on a boat along the Thames. Children visit the supermarket to buy ingredients for cooking activities. Ahead of 'World Photography Day', children visited a camera shop to buy disposable cameras which they will use to take pictures of 'a day at nursery'. This will be followed up with another trip to develop the film so children can understand the whole process in developing photos. n Routines within the nursery are well established, and children feel safe and secure. However, staff do not consistently plan the transition from play to lunch

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need to do better?

effectively. Children come in from the garden in groups but then wait for a sustained period until everyone is seated. This leads to restlessness and makes the start of lunch chaotic for children. n Partnership with parents is a strength of the nursery. Parents speak highly of the warm and supportive atmosphere. Communication is highly effective, and parents feel well informed about their children's progress. Regular opportunities, such as stay-and-play sessions, enable parents to engage with their children's learning and support their development at home. n Staff at the nursery feel well supported. The in-house academy supports all staff to continue their professional development through engagement in a range of training from apprenticeships though to leadership training for career progression.

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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 review the organisation of small group activities with staff to ensure that all children can fully engage and receive the same quality of teaching n strengthen the management of mealtimes in the pre-school room to minimise waiting times and ensure children benefit from a calm start to their lunch.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2736217 Local authority Greenwich Inspection number 10398656 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 74 Number of children on roll 89 Name of registered person The London Early Years Foundation

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reference number

Telephone number 02039888097 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Thames Reach Nursery and Pre-School registered in 2023 and is situated in Thamesmead in the London Borough of Greenwich. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm each weekday for 51 weeks of the year. There are 19 members of staff working in the nursery. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 2 and level 6. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the nursery and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the manager and area 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 that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

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

14 August 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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