Bright Spark Montessori

Inspection of Bright Spark Montessori Bright Spark Montessori, 35 Pinner Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 4ES

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children are at risk of harm because the provider does not ensure that all of the requirements of the early years foundation stage are met. Children are cared for in a welcoming and well-resourced environment. They play well, share and are polite and courteous. Children's early literacy skills develop well. Their communication and language skills are well supported through effective questioning and conversations. Children have lots of opportunities to listen to well-read stories and join in with songs and rhymes. They are confident to explore the resource-rich environment.

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The provision is inadequate

Parents provide positive feedback about their experiences of the setting. They find the staff team approachable and supportive and feel that their children enjoy attending the setting. Parents appreciate the positive steps that staff take to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's learning and to keep everyone safe. Despite weaknesses in leadership, all children attending make good progress in their learning. They are gaining the skills they need to help prepare them for their move to school.

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need to do better?

n Although the manager reflects on the practice in the nursery to drive improvements in the quality of education, not enough is done to ensure that the safeguarding and welfare requirements are met at all times. Weaknesses in performance management processes mean that staff are not adequately trained to understand appropriate safeguarding practice. n Staff work with the information provided by the parents and use their own observations to establish children's starting points in learning. They use relevant guidance to support their assessments of children's progress and what children need to know next. However, the progress check at age two is not always completed so that any gaps in children's development are identified quickly to ensure that children get any additional support they may need. n Staff skilfully join in children's play. They support children's communication and language development. For example, staff talk to children about what they are

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need to do better?

doing and introduce new words for them to learn. They give children an opportunity to finish sentences, discuss the contents of stories and predict what might happen next. Staff promote children's mathematical development well. They help children to count and solve mathematical problems. For instance, staff place different-coloured pegs around a basket and ask children how many pegs are a certain colour. Staff say 'one, two, three...' to help children count. n Children develop good hand-to-eye coordination. They fit puzzles together, learn to match various pictures and join different-sized building blocks to create their own models.

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need to do better?

2 November 2021 n Children help with tasks that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. They learn to tidy away toys and resources and develop a good level of independence. Children make choices during their play. They have a good range of toys and resources to choose from. n Staff provide children with suitable opportunities to learn about other cultures and traditions. Children begin to understand the differences and similarities between themselves and others. n The long-standing staff team is kind, caring and welcomes children into the nursery. Children are happy and enjoy attending. They are eager and motivated to play, explore and learn. Children learn to behave well. Staff provide gentle reminders about the need to share and take turns. n Children eat healthy snacks from home and enjoy opportunities to be active in a group. For example, they run excitedly in and out of a large parachute when

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need to do better?

they hear staff call the 'colour' they are holding.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager's role in protecting children from harm is not secure. She has not made sure that child protection concerns have been dealt with correctly. For example, concerns have not been shared with the relevant agencies to ensure that the appropriate action can be taken. This significantly compromises children's safety. Staff, including leaders and managers, do not have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding matters. Appropriate recruitment procedures are followed, and staff are vetted for their suitability to work with children.

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Due date

ensure that managers and staff have a secure knowledge of all safeguarding matters that enables them to identify, understand and respond appropriately to any signs that a child may be at risk of harm 30/11/2021

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Due date

ensure that safeguarding matters are reported to the appropriate authorities without delay 30/11/2021

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Due date

2 November 2021 ensure that the required progress check for children between the ages of two and three years is completed for them, to help identify any gaps and ensure children get any additional support they may need. 30/11/2021

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY559724 Local authority Harrow Inspection number 10194118 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person Bright Spark Montessori Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07983 354 119 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Bright Spark Montessori nursery opens Monday to Friday, term time only. The nursery is registered to open from 8am to 6pm, but is currently operational between the hours of 9am and midday. It provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. Four members of staff work at the nursery. The highest level of qualification staff hold is level 5.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector looked at written documentation, including safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n A joint observation was completed with the nursery manager. n The inspector observed the quality of education indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a range of documents that the manager provided during the inspection. These included evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

2 November 2021 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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