Clare Gardens Nursery

Sensory play for babies and carefully managed room moves stood out at Clare Gardens Nursery in March 2023. This London setting has capacity for 41 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months. At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and judged safeguarding effective.

The strongest practical thread is continuity: in March 2023, planning linked children's interests with their needs and cultural experiences. The reservations centred on outdoor interaction and keeping older children involved in organised activities.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, so play and everyday care belong within the same educational framework.

In March 2023, babies explored cornflour in a sturdy plastic tray, with some watching before choosing to participate. Staff encouraged simple words to express needs. That example brings together sensory exploration, choice and early communication rather than treating them as separate tasks.

Older children chose the direction of their own play and joined songs and games. Indoors, resources were within children's reach and connected with their experiences; outside, play encouraged large movements. These arrangements gave children opportunities to choose and be active.

There were limits. In March 2023, outdoor exchanges with staff were less productive at times, some children stayed out of play with peers and received fewer exchanges with staff or less staff observation, and confident speakers did not consistently receive enough vocabulary challenge. Improving large-group interaction and the organisation of adult-led activities were the two priorities.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that relationships with key persons, communication with parents and carefully managed room changes supported children's progress. Those linked arrangements matter because a move to another room involves both different adults and a different learning environment.

In March 2023, staff comforted distressed children promptly and accommodated parents who needed extra support or time. Learning resources represented children's cultural backgrounds. Breakfast and lunch included healthy food, and serving themselves gave children practice in making choices.

Clare Gardens Nursery is at 349 Westbourne Park Road, London, W11 1EG. Opening hours are 08:00 to 17:45, Monday to Friday. It operates throughout the year, closing for bank holidays, Christmas and three staff training days, so those closures need to be built into family childcare plans.

In March 2023, the setting received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise about a family's funded place.

• Older children's engagement. In March 2023, organised activities sometimes lost children's attention, while confident speakers needed greater language challenge. These are relevant considerations for a child ready for more demanding conversation and play.
• Outdoor interaction. Large-group exchanges outdoors were an improvement priority in March 2023. On a visit, how do practitioners now join outdoor play and keep older children involved?
• Planned closures. Christmas, bank holidays and three training days interrupt the year-round opening pattern. Families relying on continuous weekday care need to account for those breaks.

Clare Gardens Nursery suits families seeking year-round weekday childcare and continuity from infancy into the preschool years. Its March 2023 picture combines attentive relationships and thoughtful room transitions with clear weaknesses in some older children's learning experiences. Both sides deserve weight in the decision.