Clementswood Neighbourhood Nursery

Dentist pretend play, construction and artwork for loved ones gave Clementswood Neighbourhood Nursery a practical, personal character in February 2024. At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged it Good overall, found its curriculum purposeful and confirmed that safeguarding was effective. The clearest reservation concerned how consistently staff helped older children understand behaviour boundaries.

The nursery has capacity for 38 children, accepting ages from 3 to 60 months. Its address is 46 Grosvenor Road, Ilford, IG1 1LE.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the February 2024 examples included learning through conversation, creative work and play. Younger children explained their marks in simple words and connected them with a familiar rhyme. Construction held children's attention as they assembled structures and practised sharing.

In February 2024, older children made Valentine's Day cards and other artwork, practising cutting and sticking, with some children writing their names. Conversations about the recipients encouraged them to consider another person's feelings. After oral-health training for staff, children used dentist pretend play to check teeth and discuss toothbrushing.

The golden rules, the nursery's behaviour expectations, were introduced to toddlers through a box activity and visual prompts in February 2024. Older children's experience was less consistent: staff needed to explain the reasons behind boundaries and the effects of behaviour on other people more effectively.

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found parent partnerships strong, with developmental discussions and two-year checks, and described the manager's SEND coordinator role in arranging timely referrals with families. That gives parents a concrete picture of how concerns were discussed and taken forward.

In February 2024, staff used small-group play dough to involve children who felt less confident in larger groups. Self-care practice included using spoons in messy play, stories about toilet training and dressing during pretend play. These were manageable opportunities to practise everyday tasks.

Families also contributed festival stories in February 2024, alongside cultural foods, clothing and opportunities to use home languages. Staff discussed workload, wellbeing and training with the manager, then considered together how to put their learning into practice.

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and Christmas. This calendar matters for families arranging care across working weeks and holiday periods.

In February 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated account of its funding provision.

• Older children's boundaries. The February 2024 improvement point concerned explaining rules and how behaviour affects others. During a visit, ask how staff now approach this with older children.
• Settling for the youngest children. The accepted age range starts at 3 months. How would settling be organised for a baby joining the nursery?

Clementswood suits families seeking an all-year nursery with weekday opening hours that span the working day. Its February 2024 strengths were concrete: purposeful play, family discussions and everyday independence. Parents of older children should give the behaviour improvement point proper weight alongside those strengths.