Shofar Daycare Nursery

Shofar Daycare Nursery combines an 80-place setting for children aged six months to five years with an Outstanding judgement from its June 2023 inspection. At The Sternberg Centre for Judaism in Finchley, its clearest strength was a bespoke curriculum that carried ambition from babies through to preschool.

In June 2023, children made rapid progress and showed a strong sense of belonging. Safeguarding arrangements were effective, and every graded area was judged Outstanding.

In June 2023, conversation was integral to learning. Adults extended children's thinking through talk and books, while children contributed ideas and drew their peers into shared play. The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the areas of learning and developmental goals; here, the inspected curriculum translated that framework into practical experiences chosen around children's next steps.

Forest-school experiences gave children contact with nature, environmental care and safe woodland routines. The same inspection saw children propose models at a woodwork bench and learn to handle tools safely. These were not decorative extras. They gave children reasons to plan, cooperate, manage risk and persist with an idea.

Early mathematics was equally concrete: children read recipe cards, recognised numbers, weighed ingredients and baked. Storytelling demanded concentration, listening and turn-taking, and the nursery library allowed children to borrow books. Together, these experiences joined early literacy and number work to things children could do, discuss and revisit.

Children were energetic and deeply absorbed in their play. They often invited others into shared learning, so motivation was accompanied by collaboration rather than being confined to solitary tasks.

In June 2023, children formed strong emotional attachments to staff. Inspectors found coordinated, individualised support for children with SEND. Families and relevant specialists were part of that work, connecting each child’s nursery experience with the help around them. This made inclusion part of teaching rather than a separate intervention.

Parent partnerships were judged Outstanding. Regular exchanges about learning were especially valued by families of children with SEND. Staff worked with parents and other professionals around children's next learning needs, giving families a joined-up route between nursery practice and specialist input.

Inspectors found that safeguarding knowledge was kept current and suitability checks were thorough. Leaders invested in supporting staff and improving practice over time, rather than treating quality as fixed. The implication for children was consistency: the inspection connected that leadership work with high-quality care and education across the setting.

Children also practised responsibility in ordinary routines. Everyday routines helped older children become more self-reliant, with responsibility around lunchtime and care for their teeth after eating. Each task had an immediate purpose, while also rehearsing the independence children would need later.

Emotional security and challenge worked together. Strong attachments gave children confidence to contribute ideas, use tools and collaborate with friends. Staff then extended that engagement with purposeful questions rather than allowing busy play to become aimless. For parents, the important point is the connection between care and learning: warm relationships supported ambitious experiences instead of sitting alongside them as a separate strand.

The recorded service type is full day care. The nursery is at The Sternberg Centre for Judaism, The Manor House, London N3 2SY. It has capacity for 80 children and covers ages from six months to five years. Families should request a current written quotation directly from the nursery.

• Inspection date. The detailed account of teaching, care and daily experiences comes from June 2023. Families should use a visit to understand how those practices look now.
• Attendance fit. Ask which session patterns and minimum weekly commitment can be booked for your child's age before comparing the setting with alternatives.
• Daily costs and care. Request the current position on funded hours, meals and non-food consumables alongside the nursery-specific quotation, so the full weekly cost is clear.

Shofar Daycare Nursery's June 2023 inspection presents a compelling picture: ambitious teaching, warm relationships, effective safeguarding and purposeful experiences from recipe reading to forest-school routines. It should suit families who value language-rich learning, practical outdoor work and well-targeted SEND support. The dated evidence is strong, but families still need current session and cost details before deciding whether the practical offer fits full-day attendance or another pattern they may need.