The Montessori, Tunbridge Wells

Little Kingdom Nursery and Creche Level 8, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2SS

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 January 2016 5 February 2015

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Inadequate 4

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 The provider does not ensure staff deployment is effective. Staff do not meet the care and learning needs of all the children.  Not all children attending the setting have the opportunity to access planned daily outdoor activities, as required.  Staff do not use the learning environment effectively to engage and challenge all the children. Children lose interest quickly and move around, looking for what to do.  Children do not have enough opportunities to recognise and value their own language and cultures, and those of others, in the learning environment.  Not all children are well-prepared for school or their next stage of learning.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 The management team has already identified many of the weaknesses in provision and has created a targeted action plan to address these.  Parents are happy with the provision and are involved in children's learning. They welcome the daily conversations they have with staff about children's activities.  The nursery staff work together with other settings that children attend to help provide consistency in children's learning.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

p.2

Due Date

 ensure staff deployment is effective to meet each child's individual care and learning needs 29/02/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all children have daily access to planned outdoor activities, particularly pre-school age children, to provide an all-round learning environment that meets their individual needs 29/02/2016

p.2

Due Date

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

p.2

Due Date

 improve the learning environment so that all children attending are consistently engaged and challenged effectively in their play and learning, particularly pre-school age children 25/04/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure each child's home language and culture is reflected effectively across the setting to promote all children's developing awareness of, and respect for, people's differences. 25/04/2016

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector toured the premises. She observed children playing and interactions between the children and staff.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussion.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of staff working in the provision and sampled other documentation, including policies and procedures to safeguard children's welfare.  The inspector held meetings with the manager and provider. She also spoke to staff members during the inspection.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Although the provider has not ensured all previous actions and recommendations have been addressed, the new manager is starting to tackle identified weaknesses. These improvements have yet to have an impact on children's care and learning due to the short time the manager has been in post. However, the provider does not ensure that staff are deployed adequately to meet children's needs. This has a negative impact on children's learning. For example, during circle time, not enough staff support children to help them actively listen and participate. Some children become bored and start their own play, missing out on the planned learning. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a secure understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow in the event of a concern.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff use observations and assessments to plan activities to help children learn and develop. However, as noted at the previous inspection, staff are not always available to support older children to stay engaged or be motivated. This has a negative impact on these children's learning experiences and does not help them develop concentration skills for future learning. The quality of teaching is not consistent and varies between rooms. Some children continue to miss out on learning opportunities and do not make the progress they should. For example, staff do not help older children to be more familiar with their home languages and other cultures. Younger children enjoy learning and staff's attention. They make progress from their starting points, which is typical for their age.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff do not use the environment effectively to meet the needs of all children. For example, not all children have regular access to planned outdoor activities. During the inspection, staff took the younger children outside, but not the older ones. This affects their all-round learning experiences, particularly those children who learn better outdoors. Most children behave well. Staff are positive role models and generally manage children's behaviour effectively. Children are happy and staff support them to settle, helping them develop friendly relationships with each other and adults. Children learn appropriate hygiene practices. Staff now place greater emphasis on helping children learn to become independent. For example, during snack time, children readily wash their hands, choose their own fruit and pour their own drink.

p.3

Outcomes for children are inadequate

Not all children make progress according to their abilities, although younger children are moving on in their development and enjoy their learning. Older children are not well prepared to move on to their next stage of learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY461586 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1022321 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 50 Name of provider Little Kingdom Nursery and Creche Ltd Date of previous inspection 5 February 2015 Telephone number 01892531021

p.4

Setting details

Little Kingdom Nursery and Creche registered in 2013. It operates from a self-contained area on level eight of Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery owner employs 11 members of staff, seven of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2 and 3. The nursery owner receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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.

p.4

Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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 .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5