Clever Cloggs Day Nursery

Puppets followed by story-sequencing bags give a concrete picture of learning at Clever Cloggs Day Nursery: in October 2022, preschool children explored story characters before tackling the order of events. The activity had a clear progression, rather than simply introducing another resource.

Based at Cundy Community Centre in Custom House, the nursery has capacity for 47 children aged 6 to 60 months. At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall and judged its education Good.

In October 2022, children could choose resources that interested them, try unfamiliar activities and return to them later. This gave them some control over their play and time to revisit an idea rather than finish everything in one attempt.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that brings learning and care together: play, conversation and relationships are part of education, rather than separate from it.

During October 2022, stories, singing and rhymes supported language development. Practitioners demonstrated ways to communicate and helped children play together. In one activity, younger children explored vegetables and passed them between each other, bringing sensory exploration and turn-taking into the same experience.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and positive support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children learning English as an additional language, with families and outside agencies involved in identifying needs and planning support.

In October 2022, the key-person arrangement connected observation with planning: staff identified gaps in learning and used these to decide what a child should work on next. Parent meetings covered those next steps, while emails and handovers kept families informed. The practical benefit was a connection between learning at nursery and support at home.

Independence was less consistent. In October 2022, children received encouragement to manage toileting, with help when needed, but older children missed opportunities to serve food and pour water themselves. Mealtimes were the specific improvement priority.

The address is Cundy Community Centre, Hartington Road, Custom House, London E16 3NP. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In October 2022, the setting received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated funding position should be kept separate from the current attendance and charge arrangements a family agrees.

• Mealtime independence. October 2022 brought a specific improvement request about older children's involvement in serving food and drinks. On a visit, ask how children now take part in these routines.
• Attendance and funding. The weekday opening window spans 8am to 6pm, while the funding detail dates to October 2022. Which booking pattern and funded entitlement would apply to your child, and how would meals and consumables be handled?

For families seeking childcare in Custom House who value language-rich play and a key person connecting observation, planning and communication, these were strengths of the nursery in October 2022. Its October 2022 picture combines purposeful learning with an identifiable weakness in mealtime independence. The weekday opening hours provide a useful practical starting point; the day-to-day care arrangements deserve equal attention when choosing it.