A Crouch End nursery has won praise from Ofsted for helping every child communicate with confidence, earning a ‘Strong Standard’ grade for both inclusion and leadership.
Bright Horizons Crouch End Fields Day Nursery and Preschool, in north London, was recognised for its nurturing approach to early years education. Inspectors found that children thrive at the nursery, make good progress from their starting points, and are well prepared for school.
At the heart of the praise is the way staff help children express themselves. The nursery follows what it calls the Bright Horizons Nurture Approach, built around close relationships and understanding each child’s individual needs, so that no child is left struggling to be heard.
Staff use Makaton, a communication system that combines speech with signs and symbols, to help children get their message across. Children use signs for everyday words such as ‘more’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ during daily routines, and staff adapt how they communicate to suit each child, including those with special educational needs or disabilities.
Nursery manager Samantha said: “We want every child to feel that they belong here at Crouch End Fields and that their voice matters. Every child communicates in their own way, and our team takes the time to get to know them, understand their individual needs and find the best ways to help them express themselves and be part of nursery life.”
She added: “We’re proud of the care our team provides and the way we work together with families to help every child thrive.”
The nursery also recognises that every child develops differently. A sensory room helps young children build confidence, focus and social skills, while stay-and-play sessions give children who need extra time to settle into nursery life a gentler start.
Inspectors noted that the nursery team identifies children’s needs early and uses “effective assessment and rigorous monitoring” to deliver tailored support. They also praised the nursery’s strong relationships with families, describing parent partnerships as “highly effective” and valued by parents.
Staff regularly talk to families about each child’s needs and experiences, helping to keep the approach consistent between home and nursery.
Bright Horizons Crouch End Fields Day Nursery and Preschool provides care and early education for children aged three months to five years.
The 88-place nursery sits in the grounds of Hornsey Cricket Club on Tivoli Road, close to Crouch End station, with two gardens for outdoor play. Its team includes Makaton-trained staff, and the nursery runs a parent committee exclusive to Crouch End Fields, giving new and prospective families guidance and support from parents already at the setting.
The nursery also holds an Eco-Schools Green Flag Award, recognising its work on environmental learning and sustainable habits for young children.
The nursery’s Nurture Approach builds on the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, the statutory framework that sets the standards for learning, development and care for children up to the age of five in England, with an emphasis on wellbeing-focused activities alongside early learning.
The praise comes as early years settings across London face close scrutiny over inclusion. A West Hampstead primary school recently earned strong Ofsted praise for its early years and inclusion work, while a row over nursery closures in Islington has deepened as Greens accused Labour of pressing ahead with cuts.
