Apple Day Nursery

Inspection of Apple Day Nursery Appledore House, Friern Barnet Road, LONDON N11 3DN

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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 excited to begin their nursery day. Babies and younger children hold out their arms to staff, while older children discuss excitedly the books they have brought in to share with friends in the pre-school room.

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The provision is good

Staff set out inviting learning opportunities for children that incorporates their interests within the broad and ambitiously designed curriculum. As such children are quick to settle and show sustained focus and enjoyment in tasks. While playing with a 'Harvest Festival' scene, children talk about and try the real-life vegetables. They discuss the different animals and use tools to scoop soil into small plant pots to harvest their own vegetables.

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The provision is good

Staff encourage children to be independent. As children arrive in the morning, they take off their coat and shoes, putting them away and putting on their slippers. Children wipe their own noses and wash their hands, learning about good hygiene. Staff support children to make choices, showing toddlers a song choice board with pictures of nursery rhymes for them to choose which one they would like to sing.

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The provision is good

The support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is effective. Staff are swift to identify children that would benefit from additional support and work well with other agencies to implement this.

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need to do better?

n Staff know their children well. There is a strong key-person system in place to help children feel settled and secure within the environment. Staff are confident to talk about how they plan for children's further learning based on what they already know and can do. They plan purposeful learning experiences that have clear intentions for what children need to learn next. n The promotion of communication and language is a core component of the setting's curriculum. Staff provide an environment where children hear a wide variety of language through songs, stories and narrative to play. Staff sit with children and ask them questions about their learning, giving them time to pause and reflect before sharing their ideas. Older children are highly inquisitive and eager to find out more information about their chosen topic. n Staff make use of the garden area to extend children's learning. Children have opportunities to plant fruits and vegetables and to paint on a large scale using

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need to do better?

cardboard boxes and rollers. They take part in assault courses, climbing on small crates and jumping off onto soft play equipment. They balance and begin to negotiate space as they ride bikes and scooters. Children are proud when they complete these tasks, calling for staff to look and saying, 'I did it'. n Healthy eating is a clear focus, with nutritious meals cooked on site and a wide

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need to do better?

18 September 2025 variety of fruit offered at snack time. However, staff do not always plan transitions to mealtimes well enough. Children can wait for extended periods before eating, which causes some children to become restless. n Partnership with parents is good. Parents describe staff at the nursery as warm and nurturing. They feel communication with the nursery is excellent and they receive daily information and updates through the app as well as verbally. Parents can see the progress children have made since starting at the nursery, especially in their social and language development. n Leaders and managers are reflective and regularly seek the feedback of those who use the nursery to ensure they are meeting the needs of all children and families. The manager is passionate in her vision for the nursery. She continues to look at changes she can implement to promote better outcomes for all children.

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need to do better?

n Staff at the nursery feel well supported within their roles. They have regular opportunities to meet with leaders to discuss their professional development and well-being. Staff are encouraged to attend regular training that allows them to better meet the needs of all children in their care. For example, staff recently attended an oral health workshop at a local hospital. They plan to use information gained to promote oral health within the nursery.

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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 how lunch and snack times are organised to minimise waiting times for children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY486931 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10412472 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 109 Number of children on roll 59 Name of registered person Childcare Plus Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0203 581 5858 Date of previous inspection 26 May 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Apple Day Nursery registered in 2015 and is located in the London borough of Barnet. The nursery is open on Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are 20 members of staff, and 15 of these hold relevant early years qualifications. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early years education for eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision 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 about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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 a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the manager.

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Inspection activities

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 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

18 September 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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