Puss in Boots Nursery School

Individual interests rather than a fixed activity conveyor belt define Puss in Boots Nursery School's strongest documented quality. This is a term-time sessional setting at Gospel Oak Methodist Church, Agincourt Road, London NW3 2NT, for children aged 2 to 5, with capacity for 26 children.

Ofsted judged the nursery Outstanding in September 2022. That judgement is now historic rather than a live description of every detail, but the report gives families unusually concrete examples of confident learning, thoughtful teaching and secure safeguarding.

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the educational foundation. In parent terms, it means that communication, physical development, relationships, literacy and early mathematics are developed through connected play and guided experiences rather than a school-style timetable. In September 2022, staff turned ordinary play into purposeful learning. Children compared jumping distances with measuring tapes, explored descriptive words such as trickle during cornflour play, and acted out a traditional tale with props and well-timed pauses.

Outdoor life had substance too. In September 2022, children had free-flow access outside, used climbing equipment while assessing risks, and attended forest-school sessions in a local park. A collaborative aeroplane-building project also showed how staff let children's ideas develop rather than steering every answer.

In September 2022, reading was treated as an active experience. Staff combined books, stories, props and audio stories to draw children into language, while younger children joined familiar phrases during a traditional tale. Mathematical thinking was equally practical: measuring tapes made comparisons visible, and staff threaded number and measure through routines rather than isolating them as formal lessons.

Children's independence sat alongside careful supervision. They chose whether mats were needed beneath swinging ropes, an example of adults allowing managed risk while remaining vigilant. The inspected environment therefore joined movement, judgement and conversation in the same activity.

Relationships were a major strength in September 2022. Staff used close observation and parent knowledge to adapt teaching to individual children, including children with special educational needs and disabilities. Workshops helped parents support learning at home, while staff well-being and professional development received sustained management attention.

Safeguarding was effective at that inspection. Staff knew how to respond to concerns, while vigilant supervision and routine checks gave children a secure base for play. Children were also taught about healthy lifestyles, with fresh air and physical activity embedded in the inspected day. Books, audio stories and story props gave quieter communication work several routes in, while adapted activities helped children participate alongside their peers rather than at the edge of the group.

Parents were treated as partners in September 2022, not simply updated at collection time. Workshops gave families ways to continue learning at home, and information from parents helped staff understand each child's needs and interests. That link matters most where a child needs an adapted activity or a more gradual route into participation.

Leadership scrutiny was rigorous at the inspection. Staff reported high well-being and access to professional development, giving the teaching approach a clear system of oversight rather than leaving quality to individual preference.

The setting operates during term time and closes for school holidays. A full-day pattern is recorded, but families need the nursery's current written session details and quotation before planning attendance.

• Attendance pattern. The opening window does not establish which full-day or part-day sessions families can book. Ask for the current session menu and minimum attendance pattern before comparing childcare options.
• Daily cost detail. Request a written breakdown of the full package alongside the quotation, so the practical cost can be compared consistently with other settings.
• Inspection date. The Outstanding judgement dates from September 2022. A visit is the best way to test whether the interaction, outdoor access and forest-school practice described then remain characteristic now.

Puss in Boots Nursery School suits families seeking term-time care for a child aged 2 to 5 and who value language-rich play, outdoor activity and close attention to individual interests. The 2022 inspection evidence is excellent and unusually specific. It is best suited to families whose timetable can work around a full-day, term-time model; the current booking details remain an important question before applying.