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Early years · Report card

Tendercubs Preschool and Day Nursery, Porters Avenue.

Inspected 20 Jul 2026 · URN 2794605

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Summary

No overall grade in this framework

Samantha Thorn

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Achievement verified

    Expected standard

  • Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified

    Expected standard

  • Children's welfare and wellbeing verified

    Expected standard

  • Curriculum and teaching verified

    Expected standard

  • Inclusion verified

    Expected standard

  • Leadership and governance verified

    Expected standard

  • Framework verified

    Report card

  • Group verified

    Tender Cubs Limited

  • Inspection datesingle source

    20 Jul 2026

  • Inspectors verified

    Samantha Thorn

  • Postcode verified

    RM8 2EQ

  • Name on report verified

    Tendercubs Preschool and Day Nursery, Porters

  • URN verified

    2794605

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • AchievementExpected
  • Behaviour, attitudes and routinesExpected
  • Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected
  • InclusionExpected
  • Leadership and governanceExpected

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+76Very positivemore positive than 56% of reports of this type

In line with other reports of this type.

Praisepositiverobustfeel safenurturingeffectiveenjoyskilfullyrich
Criticismconcernsnot alwaysnot consistentlylimitedgaps

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspectionLeadershipWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1385w+77
  • Leadership186w+79
  • Safeguarding51w−11
  • What needs to improve105w+39

Strengths

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Concerns

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No strong criticism found.

Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
9
Words of findings
1,726
about usual (typical 1698)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 41, typical 43
Average sentence
14 words
Next steps
4
typical 3
Hedged sentences
4%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 66%Leadership 9%Safeguarding 2%What needs to improve 5%About the inspection 18%

Full report text

Tendercubs Preschool and Day Nursery, Porters

Unique reference number (URN): 2794605 Address: 284 Porters Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 2EQ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 05/08/2024 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Tender Cubs Limited

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Achievement Expected standard

In general, children make steady progress from their starting points. Children develop a secure foundation in communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development. Children typically develop the knowledge they need to be ready for their next steps in learning, including children who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Achievement Expected standard

Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, develop their communication and language skills well. During their play, children negotiate whose turn it is to go down the slide and identify the numbers they have jumped on. They use their imaginations and creativity to create detailed paintings. Children successfully develop their understanding of space and measure when pouring and filling in the sand. Children demonstrate a growing curiosity for learning. They are proud of their achievements and enthusiastically share what they have learned with others.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard

Leaders' well-thought-through curriculum ensures that they establish a positive and nurturing environment. Expectations for behaviour are high and commonly understood. However, on occasion, practitioners do not always give children the opportunity to express their views. As a result, some children do not develop their ability to independently make choices as quickly as they could.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard

The key-person system is effective. Practitioners have secure attachments with children, which supports them to settle in well. Practitioners support children to label their emotions and think of strategies to help them feel calm. Children generally treat each other with kindness and respect. They share the equipment, listen to each other's opinions and manage conflicts well. This supports children to feel like they belong. Leaders foster a culture of mutual respect. Clear and consistent routines ensure that both the practitioners and the children know what is coming next. Leaders are passionate about regular attendance and punctuality. They work closely with families to instil positive attendance habits. Leaders help families to understand the importance of early education. They signpost families to external professionals who support them to challenge misconceptions. For example, families are signposted to workshops on how children catch

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard

colds. As a result, children develop a positive attitude towards learning.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Policies and procedures for safer eating are robust. Practitioners ensure children are always supervised during mealtimes and food is prepared in a way to prevent choking. Leaders ensure children eat a healthy, balanced diet. Children enjoy tasting a variety of fruit and vegetables. Mealtimes are a social occasion. Practitioners discuss the different types of fruits the children eat at home and build on their prior knowledge. Children notice similarities and differences and keenly discuss the different types of milk. Practitioners skilfully discuss the benefits of calcium. As a result, children understand the impact of healthy eating on their bodies.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Generally, children's independence is supported. All children feed themselves and are given the option of what they want to eat. On occasion, practitioners do not wait for children to respond to their requests before moving them on to another activity. For example, during independent play, practitioners direct children to another activity by carrying them and do not consistently check if this is the child's intention in their play. This does not support children to have their voices heard.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Typically, children's individual needs are met. Comprehensive procedures are in place to support children's dietary requirements. Conversations with families take place and are shared with the entire team. Leaders ensure that it is everyone's responsibility to make sure children stay safe. Robust hygiene practices support health and control infection. Children wash their hands before and after eating, preparing food and going to the toilet.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Routines for sleeping are effective. Younger children's routines from home are followed and they sleep and rest at their own pace. Children are monitored closely while sleeping and safer sleeping practices are adopted. This supports children to feel refreshed and emotionally ready for learning.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Leaders plan a broad and balanced curriculum which is progressive over time. They anchor their curriculum around core books, placing a strong focus on communication and language. Across the curriculum, practitioners generally model rich language and encourage children to communicate confidently. For example, when baking, children are exposed to words like 'combining', 'crumbling' and 'mixing' and attempt to use this language in their play. However, on occasion, opportunities to extend children's vocabulary and deepen their understanding are not fully maximised. This means that some children do not develop their language as quickly as they could. Children develop a love for books, stories, songs and rhymes. They excitedly join in with repetitive refrains of their favourite songs. Practitioners skilfully share books with children, supporting them to think beyond the here and now. During a storytelling session, children

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

enthusiastically discuss what fruits and vegetables they eat at home. Practitioners sensitively challenge misconceptions and support understanding by linking knowledge to what children already know.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Leaders and practitioners ensure that the teaching of mathematics is sequenced. They introduce and develop concepts carefully and ensure children have time to practise this frequently. In the garden, children excitedly count down from 5 before they whizz down the slide. Practitioners label children's actions 'up', 'down' and 'around' the play equipment. This supports children to build a solid foundation in mathematical concepts that can be built on over time, preparing them for the next stage in learning.

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Inclusion Expected standard

Inclusion is a high priority for leaders and practitioners. Children's individual needs are quickly and accurately identified. Leaders implement a well-planned cycle of observations and assessment to ensure any gaps in development are identified and action is taken. As a result, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make progress from their starting points.

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Inclusion Expected standard

Leaders seek support from external professionals, including the local authority's area special educational needs coordinator. Through this collaborative working, leaders make adaptations to the curriculum to ensure all children's needs are met. Leaders ensure that the professional development opportunities for practitioners align with the needs of the children. During a recent training session, leaders introduced a nursery-wide transitional objects project. This project provides all children, including those with SEND, with predictability and consistency. As a result, children's wellbeing is supported.

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Inclusion Expected standard

Leaders and practitioners work closely with families. Practitioners ensure that thorough settling-in records are completed. They value families' contributions to help build an accurate picture of their children. Leaders prioritise additional funding to ensure it has a positive impact on children's achievement and wellbeing. For example, leaders earmarked funding to transform the garden area. This has supported children to develop their spatial awareness and large-muscle skills.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders are committed to providing high-quality care and education to improve the lives of all children, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders are passionate about inclusion and know the importance of getting it right for all children. Typically, their strategic approach to improvement ensures all children are ready for the next stage in their learning. Leaders have identified that there is more work to do in embedding their transitional objects project and supporting children's independence.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders have robust policies in place to support continual professional development. Leaders work closely with the local authority to access bespoke training which supports the developmental needs of the nursery and the team. Their most recent training on safeguarding has had a significant impact on practice, ensuring better outcomes for children.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders consistently work hard to engage with parents and carers. The introduction of a communication application has improved 2-way communication with parents. Parents comment positively on the nursery's flexibility and communication. Practitioners feel well supported in their role and this is reflected in the longevity of the team. Parents celebrate the dedication and strength of the team.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children are welcomed into this nurturing nursery where practitioners greet them warmly and help them to feel settled. Practitioners build close and trusting relationships with both the children and their families. They quickly identify and reduce any barriers to learning or wellbeing that children face. This supports the children, including those who have barriers to learning, to feel safe and confident and prepares them for the next stage in their learning.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children are keen to come to nursery. They excitedly explore the newly refurbished garden and meet their friends. Children happily chat with practitioners and their peers about what they have been doing that evening. Practitioners communicate with families at drop off and share relevant information. As a result, practitioners are able to plan experiences to meet individual children's needs. For example, families share how well their children have slept, and this supports practitioners to understand changes in the children's behaviour and plan in time to rest.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children behave well. They enjoy being part of this nursery. They play alongside their peers, generally sharing resources and taking turns. Children understand the nursery routines and generally follow them well. Children learn about different emotions and how they can manage their emotions. Practitioners typically support children to be aware of the nursery's expectations. They address any incidents with kindness and support children to have empathy for each other. This supports children to feel like they belong.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children learn about the world around them through a range of rich experiences. For example, they go on trips to the farm, shops and local park. Most recently, children participated in an interactive animal experience at the nursery. Children are well prepared for the society in which they live.

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Next steps

Leaders should strengthen their strategies to improve independence to support children's readiness for the next stage in their learning. Leaders should continue to develop their training programme for behaviour management to ensure all staff consistently hear children's voices and prepare them for transitions well.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with leaders, practitioners, parents and carers, children, the special educational needs coordinator and the designated safeguarding lead during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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

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Address:

Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Address:

Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:00

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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Total number of places

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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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.

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Urgent improvement

services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn . Store Street Manchester M1 2WD

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Urgent improvement

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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