URN 143795 · Inspected 2026-04-30 · Published 2026-07-16 · Inspector: Frankie Holliday
Hammersmith Day Nursery & Pre-School Unique reference number (URN): 143795 Address: 50 Richford Gate, 61-69 Richford Street, London, W6 7HZ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 22/12/1995 Registers: EYR, CCR Registered person: Little Garden Day Nurseries Limited Inspection report: 30 April 2026 Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement Safeguarding standards met The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe. How we evaluate safeguarding When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes: Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met. Strong standard Achievement Strong standard Children make sustained progress from their starting points across all areas of learning. Children who speak English as an additional language make remarkable progress, developing a secure foundation of communication and language skills. Babies eagerly communicate with staff. They repeat back new words, such as 'splash', 'duck' and 'bubbles'. Children demonstrate confidence in mathematics as they explore the gardening area, measuring different-sized worms and reliably counting insects. Babies settle quickly and understand routines, such as helping at tidy-up time and washing their hands before lunch. They confidently access the resources and enjoy accessing the small climbing frame independently. Children develop advanced independence. They manage their belongings, make choices and participate responsibly in daily routines. Children develop excellent focus and attention skills. They show resilience in tricky tasks. When cutting different types of fruit, they excitedly compare them to the diagrams of the anatomy of fruit, showing advanced readiness for future learning. Curriculum and teaching Strong standard Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum that fully prepares children in all areas of development for their next steps. Staff prioritise getting to know children through a robust settling-in process. As a result, they make accurate assessments of children's starting points. Staff use this knowledge to implement unique plans that support children's development effectively. They make timely adjustments so all children can access the curriculum. Leaders are highly evaluative and consistently reflect on how they can further improve teaching and learning for all children. The quality of interactions between staff and children is a particular strength of the setting. Staff engage purposefully with children. They respond to their ideas, narrate their play and introduce new concepts. For instance, when children search for worms, staff share that children are more likely to see worms in wet soil, from rainy weather during autumn, than in dry soil during spring. Children are encouraged to explore, solve problems and develop their interests. Staff embed mathematical language within daily routines and play with children from the earliest ages. For example, babies explore patterns with staff sharing that the circles go 'round and round'. Leaders place a great emphasis on children's personal, social and emotional development, recognising these as foundations for learning. Staff encourage children to be active, supporting them to develop their confidence and independence in physical abilities. Inclusion Strong standard Leaders ensure that all children thrive, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children with barriers to learning. Staff know each child's individual requirements extremely well. They identify any emerging needs swiftly. Staff make purposeful adaptations to the environment and tailor daily routines. For example, they have adapted menus to ensure that children have their safe foods. This ensures that all children feel emotionally secure. Leaders ensure that funding is used to close any potential gaps for disadvantaged children. For instance, as many children live in high-rise flats, they provide outdoor ball-game sessions to all children. Leaders have created a designated area with sensory resources that support children to recognise their emotions and choose strategies to help them settle. As a result, children learn how to manage their emotions and make excellent progress. Leaders work in collaboration with external professionals and agencies. These partnerships ensure that interventions are both timely and impactful. This ensures that children receive specialised support. Leaders sustain a proactive partnership with families. They consistently share observations and information about children's progress and offer guidance and support. Parents and carers speak highly of these relationships, noting that their children are happy, safe and receive highly attentive care. They describe how targeted support has helped their children who speak English as an additional language make rapid progress in learning English. Leadership and governance Strong standard Leaders demonstrate an ambitious vision for the setting. Since the previous inspection, they have embedded the curriculum and continually strengthened teaching. They take a highly strategic approach to improvement, recognising there is more to be developed to ensure the best possible outcomes and experiences for children. They are fully committed to giving every child the best possible start in life. This can be seen in the thoughtful decisions they make and in the inclusive environment they have created, where all children, staff and families are valued. Leaders recognise the importance of staff knowledge and wellbeing. All staff recently completed behaviour training, which is having an impact on the clear behaviour expectations in the setting. During supervisions, leaders arrange targeted professional development opportunities, such as management and leadership training to support staff taking on more responsibility. Staff morale has been strengthened by introducing wellbeing cafés, employer of the month and feedback opportunities. Parents and carers are an integral part of the setting's community. Leaders build warm and trusting relationships from the start. Families receive regular updates through newsletters, parents' evenings, an online app and daily conversations. This ensures that they feel well informed about any changes or events at the setting and are included in their children's learning and development journey. Leaders take actions that are in the best interests of children. For example, they ensure that they change the trip day weekly, so all children get to experience trips even if they do not attend full time. This ensures that all children benefit from the rich learning experiences. Expected standard Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard Staff ensure that all children understand expectations within their 'golden rules'. This typically results in a positive environment where children enjoy learning. Staff use strategies, such as sand timers, to help children navigate sharing and turn taking. Staff talk through conflicts to support understanding of why some behaviours are not acceptable. This helps children to behave well, learn to play collaboratively and form friendships. Staff recognise children's individual behaviour needs. For example, when children become anxious, staff intervene swiftly and support them to access the sensory room to help them calm down. Staff also support parents and carers by sharing strategies for use at home. This provides consistent expectations for children. Relationships between children and staff are caring and respectful. Staff help children to treat others with kindness. Even the youngest children are taught to use 'kind hands', and children are praised for 'lovely walking'. However, at times, some staff do not consistently role model positive manners, such as 'please' and 'thank you', during routines and play. As a result, children do not receive encouragement to consistently practise this behaviour to further support developing a respectful culture. All children understand the daily routines and anticipate what is coming next. Leaders understand the importance of regular attendance for children's education and to help prepare them for later learning, including attending school. Leaders share this with parents regularly through newsletters and during meetings with them. Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard Leaders create a safe and nurturing space, where they prioritise children's emotional wellbeing. They work with families to support adapted routines for those children that take longer to settle in the mornings. This ensures that all children are ready and regulated to start their learning. Staff closely monitor children's weaning and sleeping. Information is shared daily between parents and carers and staff to ensure that care routines are effective to meet children's changing circumstances. Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of each child's individual needs, home lives, backgrounds and preferences. They use this knowledge to create an inclusive environment. Generally, staff provide children with the knowledge they need to stay safe and healthy. For example, they remind them to sit down while eating. However, at times, children are not supported to understand personal safety. For example, children are not taught to queue at the bottom for the slide or to hold fruit on the table when chopping. While staff supervise closely at these times, children do not learn consistently how they can keep themselves safe. Children form deep bonds with their key person, seeking cuddles and reassurance when needed. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who are disadvantaged or who face other barriers to learning, develop secure attachments. Children receive a nutritious menu. Staff promote healthy eating and adhere to safe eating practices. Compulsory Childcare Register requirements This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. How we check if a provider meets the requirements of the Compulsory Childcare Register When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes: Met Not met What it's like to be a child at this setting Leaders have created a welcoming environment where flexible settling-in arrangements and regular communication support partnerships with parents and carers. As a result, children feel a sense of belonging. Children arrive confidently and access resources in the environment that interest them. Staff use children's interactions effectively to extend their learning. For instance, when children discuss how sunny it is, staff explain that some sun is good for them and gives them vitamin D. Staff teach children to become increasingly independent. Children wash their own hands, self-serve food, pour their own water and eat with metal cutlery. When they have finished, they scrape their own plates into bins and clean their faces. This helps to prepare children well for their next steps. Staff understand the unique characteristics of children and their families. As many of the children speak English as an additional language, staff focus on supporting children's communication. They use signs, gestures and visuals to support children to recognise the nursery's routines. Leaders ensure that all children and their families are valued and respected. Parents are invited to borrow from the lending library. Staff offer them a cosy place to sit and rest after dropping off their children. Children take home learning bags, with different weekly activities to share with families and show at circle time the following week. Inspector: Frankie Holliday About this setting Unique reference number (URN): 143795 Address: 50 Richford Gate 61-69 Richford Street London W6 7HZ This supports children's learning at home. It also allows them to share their differences and celebrate what makes them unique. Children relish the outdoor area. They water the plants, balance on climbing equipment and practise throwing and catching balls with friends. Children benefit from regular trips outside the nursery within the local community, such as to the market to buy fruit and vegetables. This widens their knowledge of the world around them. Staff adapt their teaching skills to suit the needs of all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders promote regular attendance. All children access an ambitious curriculum that supports their development in all areas of their learning. Next steps Leaders should continue to develop practice during routines to ensure children are consistently supported to learn good manners. Leaders should support staff to strengthen how they support children to understand why some behaviours are unsafe, building on children's abilities to recognise risks and make safer choices. About this inspection The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, children and parents and carers and children during the inspection. We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage. Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registration date: 22/12/1995 Registered person: Little Garden Day Nurseries Limited Register(s): EYR, CCR Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:30 Local authority: Hammersmith & Fulham Facts and figures used on inspection This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection. This data is from 30 April 2026 Children numbers Age range of children at the time of inspection 0 to 4 Total number of places 70 Our grades explained Exceptional Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it. Strong standard The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them. Expected standard The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them. Needs attention The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements. Urgent improvement The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) inspects services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk. 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