St Quintin Nursery

Self-service lunches, ice experiments and outdoor play give St Quintin Nursery a practical, hands-on character in its February 2023 account of daily life. Children practised doing things for themselves, from handling a spoon to pouring water. Small tasks carried real learning.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 10 February 2023. The setting has capacity for 47 children aged 4 to 60 months, at St. Quintons Childrens Family Centre in London.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday routines support their development alongside planned activities.

In February 2023, children investigated what happened to leaves held in ice, while food preparation involved cutting vegetables and using utensils to scoop them. The ice investigation encouraged discussion of change, while vegetable preparation developed hand control. Books, familiar songs and conversations also gave children opportunities to practise language.

In February 2023, children explored cultural differences through events across the year, including Chinese New Year, St Valentine's Day and Black History Month. The large outdoor area offered wheeled toys and slides reached by steps, giving children different ways to practise movement. There was room to broaden this work: the improvement priorities included extending children's experiences of the wider world.

At its February 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that safeguarding was effective, key-person relationships supported children's needs, and targeted help enabled children with SEND to make good progress. Support included small-group work on attention and language, alongside help with behaviour.

In February 2023, practitioners used words from children's home languages and visual prompts to explain what would happen next. Communication with families combined daily conversations, weekly emails, online updates, parent meetings and termly summaries. This gave parents several ways to follow development and discuss changes such as toilet training or a new sibling.

Meals and snacks were cooked on the premises that February. Children explored dental care through stories and by practising toothbrushing on mouth models. Staff also supported moves between stages within the nursery and worked with local schools on children's next step.

The address is St. Quintons Childrens Family Centre, 90 Highlever Road, London W10 6PN. Opening hours are 8am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In February 2023, the nursery received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated participation statement, rather than a promise of a particular funded attendance arrangement.

• Breadth of experiences. February 2023 improvement priorities included expanding children's understanding of the wider world. At a visit, ask how activities now extend beyond the ice investigations, cultural celebrations and outdoor play described then.
• Consistency of practice. In February 2023, staff monitoring needed to address uneven practice. Ask how managers now observe activities and follow up changes across the team.
• Attendance and funding. The 8am to 5.45pm opening window spans much of the working day. Which booking pattern and funded-hours arrangement would fit your child's routine?

St Quintin Nursery merits consideration for families seeking care across the year and an emphasis on everyday independence. Its February 2023 picture combines practical learning, outdoor movement and close relationships with children. The two improvement priorities give a useful direction for a visit: examine how learning experiences have broadened and how consistent practice is maintained.