Union Grove Community Nursery

Inspection of Union Grove Community Nursery Springfield Medical Centre, First Floor, 110 Union Road, LONDON SW8 2SH

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children are happy and content at this welcoming and inclusive nursery. They arrive excitedly and settle in confidently and quickly, helped by staff who know them well. Children develop warm relationships with kind staff. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Staff respond sensitively to children, which supports children's emotional well-being. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They consistently remind children to use kind words, listen to others and follow routines. As a result, children understand the importance of positive behaviour in their play and learning.

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The provision is good

Leaders have a clear understanding of what they want children to be able to know and do. They focus on skills children will need, such as putting on their own coats, to help children to prepare for the next stage of learning. Staff gather information about children's likes, dislikes and routines at home to find out how to meet children's needs effectively. They use this information to provide opportunities that spark children's curiosity and support them to develop resilience. For example, older babies use spoons to scoop balls from one container to another. Toddlers piece together puzzles of their own faces. Staff encourage children throughout these activities to persevere and keep on trying. This supports children to become motivated, engaged and develop a positive attitude to their learning.

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need to do better?

n Leaders of the committee have not provided the required information to Ofsted, such as changes to committee members. However, committee members do not have unsupervised access to children, which limits any impact on children's safety. Leaders are now fully aware of their duty to notify Ofsted of changes to the committee. n Children benefit from a well-sequenced curriculum that supports their interests. Staff plan learning opportunities that cover all areas of learning. They use observations and assessments of children to identify what they want children to learn next. However, during planned activities, staff do not always focus their teaching sharply enough on these next steps. This means that opportunities to extend children's learning are reduced. n Leaders know children well and provide them with a broad range of experiences, such as daily walks, ballet and football. They use funding effectively to support

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need to do better?

all children. Leaders use targeted funding to support small-group or one-to-one interventions for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, as well as specific training for staff. This approach ensures that all children make good progress. n Staff promote children's physical development through a range of planned and child-led activities. For example, babies and toddlers develop strength by

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need to do better?

21 August 2025 shaking shakers, climbing stairs and exploring sensory tubes. During activities, staff encourage children to try new actions such as pouring from a large bottle when making 'potions'. This helps children to develop strength and coordination. n Staff help children to enjoy reading through stories, songs and rhymes. Children join in, explore books on their own and talk about what they see. Staff send books home so children can share them with their families. Children develop a love of reading, learn new vocabulary and grow in confidence when talking about stories. n Children learn to identify their emotions. Staff encourage children to talk about how they feel. They listen carefully and respond sensitively, helping children to understand and manage their emotions. They also help children to recognise how others feel and develop empathy. As a result, children can express themselves and build positive relationships with their peers and staff.

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need to do better?

n Staff help children to develop independence through everyday routines. Children wash their hands before snack and pour their own water. Staff provide regular opportunities for cooking. For example, when children bake muffins, they stir, mix and scoop ingredients themselves. Staff support children to gain confidence, practise self-help skills and take pride in what they can do. n Staff celebrate diversity and cultural differences in the nursery. For example, children listen to stories such as 'Anansi the Spider' read in a Jamaican dialect. Staff gather and use key words in children's home languages. This supports all children to feel valued and develop an understanding and respect for different cultures.

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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 support staff to focus their teaching during planned activities on what children need to learn next to extend their learning further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY361828 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 10390645 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 48 Number of children on roll 38

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Name of registered person

Union Grove Community Nursery Lambeth Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 0207 720 6185 Date of previous inspection 14 January 2025

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Information about this early years setting

Union Grove Community Nursery registered in 2007 and is situated in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is open all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays. There are 12 members of staff. Of these, two staff hold a qualification at level 6, five staff hold a qualification at level 3 and two staff hold a qualification at level 2. The nursery offers government-funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the 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 Children interacted with the inspector throughout the inspection. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observations of a group activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

21 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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