Crouch End Nursery and Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive happy and eager to start their day at the setting. They are kind and respectful of one another and this is because of the nurturing, motivated and enthusiastic staff. Children have developed strong attachments with their peers and teachers.

As children arrive in the morning, staff and children welcome them at the door with a big smile and a cheerful greeting. This creates a warm and calm drop off, with children confidently waving goodbye to their parents. The dedicated manager and her staff provide a challenging curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do.

For example, older children... have written the labels and signs around their classroom, demonstrating their literacy skills. Children grow in independence and take good levels of responsibility for managing aspects of their own play and learning. For instance, older children take great pride in preparing the lunch tables and younger children attempt to feed themselves at lunchtime.

The skilled manager shares a clear vision for the intent of the curriculum with all staff. She meticulously analyses and identifies children's learning needs. The manager monitors staff performance extremely well.

For example, she regularly observes staff practice and has supervisory meetings with them to discuss and create plans to enhance their in-depth knowledge further.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

Staff and children have lovely relationships that help children feel exceptionally safe and secure. The key-person system is strongly embedded.

For example, children confidently tell the inspector who their key person is and have created their own key-person display themselves. Staff spend a great deal of time learning about their key children and their families. They then use this information to plan appropriate activities based on what the children already know and what they are interested in.

Children have countless opportunities to explore and discover in the outdoor environment. Staff create an interesting and stimulating space for children to develop their physical development. Children enjoy balancing on beams, drawing in the large wooden hut and creating their own role-play games with their friends.

Staff follow the children's lead with genuine interest and enthusiasm.Staff communicate well with children of all ages. They support children of different abilities to develop their communication and language skills through a range of different activities.

For instance, staff in the baby rooms make excellent use of songs and rhymes to capture the children's interest, and babies excitedly babble and attempt to copy words that staff use.The manager encourages continuous improvement in the setting successfully. She maintains a strong focus on ensuring that staff expertise can support further improvements.

For instance, regular supervision of staff performance provides a robust programme of training to develop subject knowledge. The manager offers a great deal of support to staff and is dedicated to creating a respectful and caring environment for her whole team. This leads to staff feeling motivated and included.

Staff provide a wide range of well-structured activities for the children. However, at times, they do not organise all activities effectively to support children's learning, for example when children are transitioning from indoor to outdoor play. This leads to some children not being fully engaged in activities during this time.

Staff plan an exciting curriculum that is personalised to each child and their individual needs. The manager and deputy closely monitor the curriculum to make sure activities are challenging. Together with staff, they reflect and evaluate activities to make sure that all children are meeting their full potential.

Children benefit from effective and consistent care routines to further promote their emotional security. The manager and staff are excellent role models. They consistently teach children good manners and excellent hygiene practices.

Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff communicate effectively with parents about their children's time at nursery and what their next steps are. This allows parents to feel involved in their children's learning and further support this at home.

Parents feel their children have made good progress since starting nursery and are very happy with the care provided.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The management team ensures that staff keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date.

For instance, staff complete training and discuss safeguarding issues in staff meetings. Staff have an excellent understanding of how to deal with concerns about children's welfare. They are familiar with the whistleblowing policy and procedures for reporting allegations.

They have an excellent understanding of the signs and symptoms which may indicate that children are at risk of harm. The manager and staff complete risk assessments of the whole setting.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review the organisation of routine activities to ensure children are continuously engaged and motivated.