Little Munchkins Nursery & Pre-School

Little Munchkins Nursery & Pre-School St Barnabas Church, Medway Road, Huntingdon PE29 1SF

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Inspection date 24 January 2019 Previous inspection date 15 October 2018

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Previous inspection: Requires improvement

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Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement

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Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This is a provision that requires improvement

n The management team does not monitor staff practice effectively enough to identify where to target the improvements. As a result, the quality of teaching remains variable and does not ensure that all children make good progress in their learning. n The management team does not use the information gained from monitoring the progress that children make from their individual starting points well enough to support children in their learning. n Some staff lack the skills to use regular interaction as a tool to build on children's thinking, understanding and knowledge.

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It has the following strengths

n Recruitment procedures are effective to ensure the suitability of staff working with the children. n Leaders and managers have worked together with staff to overhaul the resources and have rearranged the childcare rooms to provide calmer learning environments with new, more interesting items for children to play with. This has helped improve how much they enjoy their play. n The key-person system works well. Parents know their child's key person. Staff take the time to speak with parents at the beginning and end of children's day. n Kind, dedicated staff give the babies calm, patient and attentive care and get to know them very well. They respond to babies' needs well.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date improve the quality of staff supervision to ensure that practice is monitored effectively and all staff, including managers, are supported to achieve high standards in all aspects of their work 22/04/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

use the information gained from the assessment of children's progress to promptly provide targeted individual support that helps them to achieve the next steps in their learning. 22/04/2019

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed joint observations with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and owner. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management requires improvement

Despite support from the local authority following the last inspection, weaknesses in the quality of teaching remain. Although staff monitor children's progress, they do not put plans in place quickly enough to fully support children's learning. This affects some children's progress. However, staff work with parents and other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff attend joint meetings and enable a two-way flow of information about how to support individual children. Safeguarding is effective. Staff can appropriately recognise the possible indicators of abuse or neglect. They know what procedures to follow to ensure the safety of children should they have concerns about a child. Clear procedures are followed for new staff who are awaiting completion of the relevant suitability checks. They do not attend to children's personal care needs and are not left unsupervised with them.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Leaders and managers do not fully recognise what good-quality teaching is. They do not support staff effectively to improve their practice and achieve consistently good levels of teaching. Staff do not regularly engage children in stimulating conversations. Teaching in the pre-school room has improved and the quality of teaching is generally good. However, some pre-school children do not benefit from higher levels of challenge and stimulation. Where children speak English as an additional language, staff work hard to learn words and phrases in their home language. This means staff understand what children are saying to them and it helps them communicate to meet each child's basic needs.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

A wide range of interesting activities has been introduced to all age groups. Regular adult-led activities provide children with an opportunity to try new experiences. For example, toddlers make play dough and paint with staff, and older children enthusiastically join in with physical activities. Older children test out their bodies during their 'flippy flappers' activity. They move their arms and hands in circles and dance to the beat of an energetic song. Children have opportunities to make choices and their independence is promoted effectively. For example, older children serve their own snack and wash up after they have finished.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Weaknesses in teaching mean that children are not making good enough progress. However, they are gaining the basic skills to support their future learning. Children who speak English as an additional language are increasingly confident in their use of English. Older children begin to make marks that have meaning. Outdoors in the garden, children use a variety of toys that promote their balance and coordination. They use their imagination as they pretend to cook in the outdoor play kitchen.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500684 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10082436 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Little Munchkins (Huntingdon) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 October 2018 Telephone number 07702273757

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reference number

Little Munchkins Nursery & Pre-School registered in 2016. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The owner holds an appropriate qualification at level 4. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery also provides after-school care during school term time for children up to the age of eight years. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children

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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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procedures set out in the guidance Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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