The Montessori, Tunbridge Wells

The Montessori, Tunbridge Wells Level 8, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2SS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 June 2017 6 July 2016

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The provider has made insufficient progress since the previous inspection. She does not make sure that staff understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities, such as the safe use of mobile phones and cameras at the setting. The provider does not ensure she notifies Ofsted and the appropriate agencies of all allegations against staff. These are also breaches of the Childcare Register.  The provider does not make sure that staff effectively risk assess the environment, such as in the garden area. This compromises children's safety and well-being.  The provider does not successfully monitor staff to develop their knowledge and skills. For example, she does not provide effective supervision and training.  Staff do not effectively develop children's learning and individual needs. They do not use their monitoring processes to appropriately support gaps in development. Staff do not consistently engage children in activities and develop their thinking skills to help

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This provision is inadequate

take their learning further.  Staff do not support children's understanding of healthy lifestyles. Children do not make sufficient progress to reach their full potential.

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It has the following strengths

 Children have opportunities to use and develop their home languages through play. For instance, they have activities and resources in their home languages.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

The provision is inadequate and Ofsted intends to take enforcement action

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

We will issue a Welfare Requirements Notice requiring the provider to:

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Due Date

 improve staff's knowledge and understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities, including the use of mobile phones and cameras 07/07/2017

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Due Date

 ensure Ofsted and relevant agencies are notified, within the required timeframe, of all allegations of serious harm or abuse made against staff 07/07/2017

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Due Date

 improve risk assessments to ensure they identify and minimise all hazards to children's safety and well-being, with particular regard to the garden fence 07/07/2017

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Due Date

 develop the monitoring of staff and provide effective supervision and training to improve their skills. 07/07/2017

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Due Date

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve the quality of teaching to support and monitor children's learning, individual needs and gaps in development effectively, to aid their engagement in activities and help each child to make the best possible progress 07/07/2017

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Due Date

 develop opportunities for children to learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. 07/07/2017

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning and development.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the provider.  The inspector viewed a range of documentation, including policies and procedures, and children's records.  The inspector spoke to children and parents.  The inspector viewed all areas of the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. The provider does not ensure that staff understand and implement their safeguarding responsibilities. For example, they use mobile phones while working with babies, and staff who witness this do not take the appropriate action. This places children at significant risk of harm. The provider does not make sure that she reports all allegations against staff to Ofsted and the relevant agencies within the appropriate timeframe. She does not manage her staff well to develop their practice to a good standard. For example, staff do not use the information from training and the nursery policies to ensure they follow the safeguarding procedures. In addition, the provider has not developed their teaching skills since the previous inspection.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff do not effectively support children's progress and individual learning needs. They do not successfully build younger children's communication and language skills. For example, younger children try to pronounce the word 'balloons' and staff repeat back 'baboons', copying what the children said. This does not support children to learn to talk. The provider and staff do not understand how to use their monitoring process to address gaps in children's development. For example, staff are not aware of the impact that dummies have on babies' developing speech and do not follow the nursery policy on the use of dummies. Staff do not consistently maintain children's attention and interest in activities, for example, they distract children from one activity to introduce another. This does not help keep children’s motivation and engagement in their learning. Staff do not use skilful questioning to help children think for themselves and take their learning further. They

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

share information with parents. For example, they have daily discussions, parent consultations and offer an online system to aid a consistent approach.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The breaches in leadership and management have a significant impact on children's safety and well-being. Staff do not effectively risk assess all areas where children play. For example, the outdoor play area is on the top floor of the building. The fencing is not secured to the floor and there is a risk of children exiting the area. Staff do not help children learn about healthy lifestyles. For example, they do not talk to them about why it is important to have a healthy balanced diet. Staff encourage children to share and take turns, which helps them manage their own behaviour.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children do not make the best possible progress from their starting points to prepare for the next stage in their learning. There are missed opportunities to develop their emerging interests. For example, children ask to sing a song fast and slow again. However, staff tell them they cannot do that now, they can do it another day. Children build on their independence, such as cutting up fruit and pouring drinks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461586 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1095947 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 62 Name of registered person Little Kingdom Nursery and Creche Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 July 2016 Telephone number 01892531021

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reference number

The Montessori, Tunbridge Wells registered in 2013. It operates from a self-contained area on level eight of the 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 provider employs 11 members of staff, eight of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications to level 2 or above. She receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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reference number

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.

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reference number

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.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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