Merchant Square Day Nursery

Inspection of Partou Merchant Square Day Nursery & Pre-School Harbet Road, Paddington, LONDON W2 1AJ

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Leaders have taken steps to make the necessary improvements since the last inspection. Leaders have strengthened staff's skills to ensure that they understand and implement the safeguarding and welfare requirements to keep children safe and support them to thrive. Children arrive to an environment that has been thoughtfully arranged by staff to engage children to learn through play. Children enjoy a wide range of learning experiences as part of the curriculum. For example, some children take a walk with staff along the local canal and pick leaves they recognise from a book they have read earlier about 'autumn leaves'. They share with staff the various colours and sizes of leaves they recognise. Staff use these experiences to help children to build an understanding of the world around them.

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The provision is good

Leaders and staff take the time to build positive relationships with children and their parents and carers with a robust settling-in process. This helps staff to establish the needs of every child. The curriculum is individualised to help children to learn in sequence around what interests them. Children confidently have choices throughout the day, which helps to build their independence. Staff remind children of their expectations and are responsive to their needs. This helps children to feel safe and secure and have a positive attitude to their learning.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have worked hard since the last inspection to ensure that staff's safeguarding knowledge has been strengthened through training and continual updates. Staff recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and what they need to do. In addition, staff are fully aware of procedures to follow should there be an allegation against a member of staff towards their conduct. This helps to protect children from harm. n Staff help children to become effective communicators, including children who speak English as an additional language. Staff talk to children throughout the day and help to introduce a range of vocabulary. Staff read stories to young children, who listen with intent. This repetition helps children to become familiar with what comes next. Staff sing nursery rhymes to children on outings based on what they see, such as 'Five Little Ducks' as they walk along the canal. This helps children to make links in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children to build their physical skills well. Children use resources, such as tricycles, climbing equipment and large tyres, to build their core strength and gross motor skills. Staff create opportunities for children to make play dough as a group, where they cut, roll and squeeze. Children use their fingers to handle small pipettes to fill and empty objects with water. These experiences help children to build their small finger muscles to support their early writing skills.

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need to do better?

15 September 2025 n Staff support children to learn how to keep their bodies healthy. Leaders ensure that children have well-balanced and nutritious meals that take into account their dietary needs. Staff remind children to wash their hands beforehand. This supports children to learn about good hygiene practices. n Leaders have established a robust staff supervision process and ongoing professional discussions to help identify staff's strengths and training needs. Staff have attended a range of training opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and teaching practices. This helps to build a strong curriculum. Staff share that they feel valued and appreciated by leaders. n Leaders and staff have used training to support staff to build a curriculum that is ambitious for every child. This helps children to reach their full potential. n Parents speak positively of leaders and staff. They appreciate the daily

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need to do better?

communication and regular updates on their children's care needs and development. Parents share that staff work closely with them to support milestones, such as toilet training. This helps to support a consistent approach to children's learning. n Staff support children to recognise and regulate their emotions. For example, when children are settling back to nursery, they help children to feel secure in their environment. Staff use a small bookcase and cosy space to help create a distraction for children to help them to feel calm and ready to join their friends. n Staff support children to have a positive attitude to their learning. Staff prepare children for transitions in the day, so they understand what is happening next. However, occasionally, not all staff, including cover staff, receive updates about every child's individual needs to support their behaviour. This means, sometimes, staff are not fully prepared to provide a targeted approach to individual needs.

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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 ensure that all staff, including cover staff, have a full understanding of children's needs to support their behaviour further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY481188 Local authority Westminster Inspection number 10409037 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 69 Number of children on roll 13 Name of registered person Merchant Square Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0207 402 2227 Date of previous inspection 8 May 2025

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Information about this early years setting

Partou Merchant Square Day Nursery registered in 2014 and is situated in the London Borough of Westminster. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 6. The nursery provides government-funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The area manager and the inspector carried out a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into account. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n Staff spoke to the inspector at convenient times in the day, and the inspector took their views into account. n The area manager and the inspector completed a joint observation of a focused activity. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with the area manager and quality manager about the leadership and management of 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

15 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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