Noel Park Day Care Centre

A child’s drawing of a planet became a shared papier-mâché project in March 2023: a useful illustration of how children’s ideas shaped activities at Noel Park Day Care Centre. Conversation led to making. At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and recognised good progress from children’s starting points.

The centre has capacity for 43 children, accepting ages from birth to 59 months, on Maurice Avenue in Noel Park, London.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care; here, the March 2023 activities illustrated learning through conversation, play and practical exploration.

In March 2023, children counted small eggs, explored shapes with counting rods and sang number songs. Mixing flour and glue indoors, and combining sand, water and grass outside, gave them opportunities to experiment with materials. Staff extended conversations through questions and commentary, while reading happened outdoors as well as inside. Regular library outings added another setting for enjoying books.

Outdoor play in March 2023 included balancing on tree trunks and racing games, giving children different ways to practise movement. Toddlers joined action songs and spent time playing alongside older children. That shared arrangement needed attention: some toddlers remained at the edges of the larger room instead of joining activities, and improving the organisation of this free-flow period was the required next step.

Independence had a practical shape in March 2023. Children washed their hands, put on coats, helped themselves to lunch and cleared their plates afterwards. These routines gave them everyday responsibilities relevant to starting school.

During the same month, staff listened to children’s ideas and supported collaboration, sharing and taking turns. A dental-team visit had also introduced healthy eating and oral care. Families received updates through everyday conversations and parents’ evenings, alongside ideas for continuing learning at home.

In March 2023, safeguarding discussions formed part of staff meetings, recruitment checks were used and the premises underwent safety checks. Supervision, observations of staff practice and a team training plan supported professional development.

The address is Maurice Avenue, Noel Park, London N22 6PU. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with closures at Christmas, Easter and during the last two weeks of August.

In March 2023, the centre provided funded early education for three- and four-year-olds. That dated funding position should be kept separate from a family’s present booking decision.

• Toddlers sharing space. The March 2023 improvement point concerned toddlers who were not joining activities during free-flow. This matters for a child who needs help to engage within a larger group.
• Attendance and funding. Weekday opening runs from 8am to 6pm, with holiday closures. Which booking and funding arrangement would fit your child and those closures?
• A dated picture of daily life. The activity and care examples describe March 2023. Use them as a picture of practice at that time when weighing the centre’s suitability.

Noel Park Day Care Centre merits consideration for families seeking weekday childcare and valuing practical independence, conversation and learning through making. Its March 2023 examples give that judgement substance: children’s ideas became projects, books travelled beyond the nursery through library outings, and daily routines involved real responsibility. The toddler free-flow improvement point remains an important part of that dated assessment.