Joel Nursery

Inspection of Joel Nursery 214 Colindeep Lane, London NW9 6DF

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are happy and confident in the setting. Staff greet them warmly upon arrival, ensuring every child feels welcomed. Children eagerly and independently choose activities to join. Staff engage with enthusiasm, smiling and laughing as they share experiences. Children enjoy a wide variety of learning opportunities. Staff focus on helping children become confident communicators. They encourage varied spoken language, read aloud, sing rhymes and use Makaton signs alongside speech to support understanding. Children develop strong language skills. For example, staff read familiar books, prompting children to join in and repeat known phrases. Toddlers copy song actions, sign key words and sing some lyrics, while older children use complex sentences, initiate conversations and confidently combine speech with signs to express ideas.

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The provision is good

Staff provide rich learning experiences that support children's progress across all areas of development. Children display a passion for learning, often spending long periods absorbed in activities. When needed, staff gently prompt children to focus by using their names to regain attention, which enables everyone to participate. Staff also support children's well-being by encouraging rest and reflection. After a busy morning, children are guided to take deep breaths, relax and listen to surrounding sounds. Staff nurture kindness and praise children when they share or help others independently. This approach fosters a positive, respectful and inclusive learning environment for all.

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need to do better?

n Staff promote children's mathematical development extremely well. Across activities, they support children in using and understanding mathematical language, including for counting. Children confidently recognise and count numbers in the environment, such as during hide-and-seek games in the garden. Staff also encourage them to solve simple problems, for example by comparing the number of legs on spiders and ladybirds. n Children enjoy freshly prepared meals cooked on site daily. Staff encourage children's awareness of foods that are good for their bodies and discuss what children like and enjoy eating at home. Children's health and well-being are supported through fresh air and time in the nursery garden. They enjoy being physically active. Staff remind them to drink to stay hydrated in warm weather and take steps to prevent outdoor play during the hottest part of the day to keep them safe in the sun.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children to gain a good understanding of other people and countries from around the world and outside of their own communities. For instance, children learn about different cultures, races and religions using books and purposeful discussions.

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need to do better?

8 August 2025 n Children show a keen interest in mark making. Staff encourage the children to spend long periods drawing different images. This supports early writing skills and promotes school readiness. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well. They work closely with other professionals and offer targeted support to ensure all children make good progress from their starting points. n Parents describe the setting as 'wonderful' and feel their children are thriving and well cared for. They value the vital support for both children and themselves in learning and early intervention. Staff offer plenty of information and activity ideas to help parents support learning at home. Consequently, children make continuous progress. n Staff support children to develop their independence skills. Young children are encouraged to feed themselves at mealtimes. In the toddler and pre-school

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need to do better?

rooms, children make choices about when they want their food and delight in serving themselves and pouring their own drinks. n Staff have good knowledge of the curriculum and assess children's development to understand their abilities. They plan activities that generally support new skill development. However, the connection between the intended learning goals and the delivery of activities is sometimes unclear, which means children do not always receive the full support needed to build on what they already know. n Staff have a clear expectation of the children's behaviour. They communicate rules and explain routines clearly and consistently, so children behave well. Staff use simple chants to reinforce their key messages, while explaining why rules are in place and how they help to keep children safe. Staff and children show respect and care towards each other. n Staff collaborate effectively, holding regular meetings to reflect on practice and

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need to do better?

improve children's learning experiences. Leaders use supervision sessions well to support staff well-being and have a clear understanding of their roles. Targeted staff training could be further enhanced to enrich teaching quality. While leaders meet regularly with staff to discuss good practice and training needs, their self- evaluation systems tend to highlight strengths more than areas for growth, which may reduce opportunities to continually refine provision quality.

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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 develop clearer links between the intent and delivery of activities to shape these

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should:

8 August 2025 to the learning needs of each child n increase targeted training in key teaching areas and adjust self-evaluation to equally identify strengths and improvement needs, ensuring consistent enhancement of provision quality.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY340710 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10399714 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 30 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Building Blocks Education Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 2000189 Date of previous inspection 12 December 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Joel Nursery registered in 1982. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The provider employs eight staff. The nursery manager holds a qualification at level 7, and five staff hold early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The provider offers the government-funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and leaders completed a learning walk together across all areas of the nursery to discuss how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including staff's suitability to work with children. n The inspector observed children's activities and staff's teaching indoors and outdoors. n The inspector carried out two joint observations with the leaders. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector held discussions with leaders at appropriate times during the inspection and during a scheduled meeting. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection.

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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

8 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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