Comberton Children's Centre

Metal pots became musical instruments, while a story about a colourful monster helped preschool children discuss emotions: Comberton Children's Centre's November 2022 activities brought learning into ordinary play. This Hackney setting has capacity for 69 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 59 months.

At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made good progress, with effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Those are dated judgements. The practical offer includes weekday opening and scheduled holiday closures.

In November 2022, babies explored rhythm using wooden spoons and metal pots, toddlers played with sea creatures in a water tray, and preschool children experimented with early writing. These examples gave different ages different ways to participate, from making sounds to talking about their marks.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the November 2022 examples included conversation, songs and play, connecting language with activities children chose to explore.

During that period, The Colour Monster helped preschool children name and express feelings. Black History Month included tasting food from different countries with parents and staff, giving cultural learning a shared, practical form. Children also had daily outdoor opportunities to develop movement skills.

In November 2022, a key-person arrangement helped children settle, while staff used peekaboo with babies to encourage eye contact. Regular parent workshops offered guidance and support, extending communication beyond conversations about the nursery day.

Meals were balanced and nutritious at that time, and handwashing followed outdoor play and preceded eating. However, adults did not consistently connect food with its effects on the body. Healthy-choice learning needed more attention.

Activity planning also needed sharper attention to individual abilities: some adult-led activities continued too long, leaving children restless. This matters because a shared activity still needs to work for each child taking part.

The address is Comberton Nursery, 10 Comberton Road, London E5 9PU. Opening hours are 7.45am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, with closures for bank holidays, two weeks at the end of August and Christmas.

In November 2022, funded early education was offered for two-, three- and four-year-old children. That participation belongs to the inspection period.

• Individual learning. November 2022 activity planning sometimes missed children's differing needs and abilities. At a visit, ask how staff now adapt activities and decide when to change pace.
• Food education. In November 2022, healthy meals were not consistently accompanied by explanations about healthy choices. Look for how food conversations connect eating with understanding the body.
• Holiday cover. Closures include two weeks at the end of August and Christmas. Families needing care across those periods should plan alternative arrangements.

Comberton suits families seeking care for children from babyhood through the preschool stage, within its weekday opening window. Its November 2022 strengths included settling relationships, language-rich play and shared cultural activities. The decision should also weigh how individual activity planning and healthy-choice learning have developed since then.