Dreams For You Nursery and Day Care

Farm-animal play connects the youngest children’s sensory exploration with older children’s pretend veterinary care at Dreams For You Nursery and Day Care. In February 2024, that shared theme gave different ages different ways into the same subject.

At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children made good progress, including those receiving individual support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The setting has capacity for 90 children aged 6 to 60 months at Craig Park Youth Centre in London.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care: play, communication and physical activity form part of that learning, rather than sitting apart from it.

In February 2024, babies explored farm animals through a sensory tray, toddlers combined animal play with sounds and books, and older children pretended to treat animals as vets. Staff used conversation during play to introduce vocabulary and give children opportunities to practise it.

Movement had an indoor and outdoor place. In February 2024, older children took part in yoga and activities combining music with movement; the garden contained a climbing frame, musical equipment and a pretend ice-cream stall. However, outdoor experiences needed further development to extend learning for all children, especially those who benefited from being outside. Group activities also needed more consistent challenge and clearer connections with children’s earlier learning.

In February 2024, staff drew on children’s home routines when helping them settle, offering younger children comfort and physical reassurance. Familiar care routines helped connect home and nursery life.

Individual learning plans and collaboration with other agencies formed part of support in February 2024. Staff also incorporated families’ languages and cultures into nursery life, giving children opportunities to recognise their own backgrounds and encounter others’.

Parents received updates and newsletters about activities and forthcoming events in February 2024. Leaders invited families to events and connected them with community opportunities, including a short first-aid course. Staff supervision and observations of colleagues’ practice provided opportunities to reflect on individual children’s needs.

The address is Craig Park Youth Centre, Lawrence Road, London N18 2HN. The nursery opens across the year and closes for the Christmas holidays.

In February 2024, opening hours were 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks of the year. At that time, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

• Group learning. In February 2024, activities did not consistently build on what children already knew. On a visit, ask how practitioners adapt group activities to extend different children’s learning.
• Outdoor learning. The February 2024 improvement priorities included making better use of outdoor experiences. Ask how the garden supports children who learn best outside.
• Attendance pattern. Year-round opening includes a Christmas closure. Which booking patterns and settling arrangements would fit your child’s routine?

Dreams For You merits consideration for families seeking care for children aged 6 to 60 months, with year-round opening. Its February 2024 strengths included linked themes across ages, attention to home routines and individual support. The same assessment left two concrete priorities: stronger challenge during group learning and fuller use of the outdoor environment.