ABC Studio Childcare Peckham

An outdoor kitchen and an emotion mirror give a concrete picture of childhood at ABC Studio Childcare Peckham: practical exploration alongside learning to recognise feelings. At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that support involving parents and other professionals helped children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make progress.

The nursery has capacity for 27 children aged 15 to 60 months at the Copleston Centre in London. The daily experiences described below belong to November 2022.

In November 2022, children chose resources for pouring and scooping in the outdoor kitchen, sustaining their attention through activities they had selected themselves. Outdoor movement included bicycles for older children and pushing a wheelbarrow for younger ones. These experiences gave children different ways to practise coordination. The distinction between the activities matters: pedalling involved older children propelling a bicycle, while younger children practised moving a wheelbarrow along a path. Outdoor play therefore included movement as well as investigating materials. In the kitchen activity, children chose the equipment they wanted to use with sand and water. Their concentration came through an activity they could shape themselves, rather than only through following an adult's instructions. For a parent interested in learning through play, this is a concrete example of choice and sustained attention working together.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: play supports learning alongside everyday care routines. In November 2022, activities drew on children's interests and their next learning steps. Staff asked questions and allowed time for answers, giving children space to express their ideas. During a creative activity that November, children talked about the colours their parents liked. A familiar subject gave them something personal to contribute to the conversation. Clear speech from adults and pauses for children to answer made language practice part of an ordinary activity. This was more than an opportunity to listen: children could contribute their own observations, with staff making room for those contributions rather than supplying every answer.

Books also featured in that month's daily life. Children selected them independently and joined in with an adult reading aloud. Group activities were less consistent: some children waited too long for their turn and became distracted. Better organisation of these activities was the improvement requested.

In November 2022, the emotion mirror supported conversations about feelings during circle time. Children passed it between friends and listened to one another. This made recognising emotions part of a shared activity. Listening and turn-taking were also evident in November 2022: children chose another child to receive the mirror, then heard what others wanted to say about their feelings. The activity linked expressing an emotion with attending to someone else's experience. Children were practising the social habits needed for participating in a group, alongside naming how they felt that morning.

Communication with families in November 2022 included daily learning updates and more detailed meetings during the year. Staff discussed children's development and planned subsequent learning, connecting conversations with parents to the child's day.

Everyday independence was visible that month too: older children put on their own boots, while younger children collected a bowl and selected fruit. Meals and snacks supported healthy eating, and children collected their drinking cups when thirsty. In November 2022, everyday hygiene also included children covering a cough and fetching tissues for their noses. These small routines gave them practical ways to take part in their own care. Choosing fruit, getting a drink and preparing to go outdoors placed independence within familiar parts of the day, rather than reserving it for a separate learning activity.

The address is Copleston Centre, Copleston Road, London, SE15 4AN. Opening hours are 08:30 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, with closures for bank holidays, the last week of August and Christmas.

• Group participation. In November 2022, waiting during some group activities interrupted children's engagement. Ask how activities now keep each child involved.
• Outdoor exploration. The outdoor kitchen supported sustained, self-directed play in November 2022. On a visit, ask how outdoor experiences are organised for your child's age.
• Attendance arrangements. The weekday opening window runs from 08:30 to 18:00. Discuss the booking pattern you need before committing.

For families seeking weekday childcare at the Copleston Centre, the November 2022 picture offers useful strengths: child-led exploration, opportunities for independence and regular communication with parents. The weaker organisation of some group activities is a concrete point to explore. Families who value outdoor play and learning through everyday routines have good reasons to consider this setting, while keeping that dated assessment in perspective.