The Learning Tree Lychett Minster

The Learning Tree Lychett Minster Willow Lodge Montessori School, Dorchester Road, Poole, BH16 6JE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 September 2017 Not applicable

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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

 Children over two years of age are not assigned a key person. Staff do not have a sufficient understanding of their individual care and learning needs.  The manager does not ensure that staff deployment is effective. Staff do not meet the needs of children over two years of age to support their well-being, care and learning.  The provider does not have a good understanding of the requirements of the early years foundation stage. The provider has not notified Ofsted of changes to the manager, as required. This is also a breach to the Childcare Register requirements.  The manager does not monitor or ensure that staff working with children over two years old plan and assess learning effectively and know children's developmental needs. Some children lack interest and motivation to learn. Children do not make good progress.  Staff working with children over two years old do not work effectively with parents.

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This provision is inadequate

They do not share information about children's development to support their learning at home.  Self-evaluation is not effective. The management team does not identify the weaknesses of the setting or ensure that it meets all requirements.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff maintain a suitably clean and secure environment for children and provide them with healthy meals and snacks.  Children have opportunities to play outside. They run freely, use different activities to develop physical skills and play creatively.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 assign each child a key person to meet their individual care and learning needs and to work in partnership with parents 25/09/2017

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Due Date

 ensure staff are deployed effectively to meet children's care and learning needs, particularly those over the age of two years 25/09/2017

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Due Date

 improve knowledge of the requirements of the early years foundation stage, with particular regard to notifying Ofsted of changes to the manager of the setting 13/10/2017

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Due Date

 take effective action to assess, monitor and plan for every child's development accurately, to motivate and engage them in challenging activities and help them to make good progress 13/11/2017

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Due Date

 inform Ofsted of the appointment of a new manager. 25/09/2017

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 develop partnerships with parents to share more information about their children's ongoing development, to help build on children's achievements at home  make effective use of self-evaluation to identify and address breaches in requirements and the quality of the provision to make ongoing improvements to outcomes for children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching in the playrooms and outdoor play area.  The inspector sampled children's assessment records and planning documentation, and talked to children at appropriate times.  The inspector assessed the suitability of staff and discussed management's knowledge and understanding of the early years foundation stage.  The inspector took account of the views of parents.  The inspection took place following Ofsted's risk assessment process.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. The management team does not understand the requirements well enough to ensure good outcomes for children. The provider has appointed a new manager but has not notified Ofsted. The management team does not deploy staff effectively. Not all children receive the individual support and encouragement they need to be emotionally secure, and engage in challenging and motivating learning experiences. The manager and staff understand what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The setting has recently re-registered under new ownership and experienced high staff turnover. The management team has recruited new staff and vetting procedures help to ensure they are suitable to work with children. The manager has started to monitor staff practice and provide support to increase staff knowledge and skills. However, this is not yet having an impact so that all children receive the support

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

they need. The manager maintains the required staff ratios and records children's attendance. Self-evaluation is weak and does not identify and address the weaknesses.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The quality of teaching is inconsistent across the nursery. Staff working with children over two years of age do not have a sufficient understanding of their developmental needs. They do not assess children's progress or know their next steps for learning. Staff do not work consistently with parents to support children's learning at home. They plan some activities to provide children with different experiences. However, poor staff deployment means children do not receive the interaction they need, and they wander around uninterested, drop toys on the floor when they are unsure what to do with them and become boisterous. Staff working with the babies support them well to explore and investigate, and they encourage their language development. They sing songs and encourage them to join in with words and actions and make sounds with musical instruments.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The management team does not assign children over the age of two years a key person to meet children's emotional needs and work closely with parents. New staff do not understand each child's healthcare and developmental needs. Some children become upset and frustrated, and staff do not know how to comfort them. Staff working with babies follow their care routines consistently overall, and provide babies with comfort and re-assurance as they settle them to sleep. They provide parents with feedback about their children's care routines each day.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children over the age of two years do not develop the skills for their future learning and are not well prepared to move on to school. They do not receive the individual support they need from staff. Not all children are motivated to explore and learn. Older children lack challenge in their learning and do not progress as well as they could. The youngest children develop language skills and learn new words. Children have some opportunities to learn mathematical concepts, be creative and gain some independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550561 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 1113088 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 - 5 Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Orchidale Childrens Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07975604918

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reference number

The Learning Tree Lychett Minster registered in 2017. It is located in Lytchett Minster, Dorset. The group is open from 7.30am to 6pm from Monday to Friday all year round. The group receives funding for the provision of free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The group employs seven members of staff, of whom two are qualified teachers and four hold early years qualifications at levels 3 and 2.

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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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