Clever Munchkins Nursery

Inspection of Clever Munchkins Nursery 52 Avondale Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 1DJ

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate 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

Weaknesses in the safeguarding and welfare requirements impact negatively on children's safety. Children are not supervised adequately to keep them safe. Children do not receive an exciting and challenging learning experience. At times, children run around inside with no purpose. Staff call across the room for them to stop and do not redirect this behaviour. This means children are not learning how to regulate their behaviour. Additionally, they do not build on their concentration skills.

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The provision is inadequate

Children play in a noisy room that hampers their ability to learn vital communication skills. They do not hear a rich range of vocabulary. Children play with resources but staff fail to inject new and interesting words. For example, they repeatedly ask children the same questions, such as 'what colour is that?' When new words are introduced, staff do not help children to understand them in a meaningful way.

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The provision is inadequate

Children arrive and settle quickly at nursery. They follow the routine to put their belongings away. Children explore toys creatively. They use tweezers to pick up blocks and manipulate dough with their hands and fingers. This helps develop small-muscle control.

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need to do better?

n Risk assessments are ineffective. The provider adapted procedures after a recent incident where a child left the premises alone. However, staff do not follow these procedures. Despite informing staff that the area near the gate requires constant supervision, on the day of inspection, staff failed to monitor this exit. This demonstrates that the provider fails to ensure staff deploy themselves effectively to prevent children from leaving the premises unsupervised. n The performance management programme for staff is ineffective. They regularly meet to discuss how to develop teaching, however, this does not translate to better interactions with children. The provider understands what children need to learn, but staff do not fully understand how to implement the curriculum to extend children's skills. n Staff fail to plan learning opportunities that build on what children already know and can do. They know about the children in their care but do not use this

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need to do better?

information well. While staff set up activities, the focus of these experiences does not match children's learning needs. This means staff do not stretch children's abilities and they do not make good progress in their learning. n Staff do not manage children's behaviour in an age-appropriate way. They speak loudly, shouting across the room for children to 'share'. Additionally, they do not explain to older children why they need to change their behaviour. This means

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need to do better?

12 May 2022 children fail to learn what is socially acceptable. n The provider reads stories that capture children's attention. They listen and relate to the feelings of the character by making happy and angry faces. This helps children to develop an interest in stories. n Children gain some awareness of what contributes to a healthy lifestyle. They learn to wash their hands at appropriate times, eat healthy foods and care for their teeth. They spend time outside, riding tricycles and going up and down slides. This supports their whole-body coordination. n Parents state they are satisfied with the care their children receive. They receive regular information about their child's time at nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Children's well-being is undermined because the provider fails to ensure staff adequately supervise children to assure their safety. Nevertheless, staff have sufficient child protection knowledge. They know the possible signs which would indicate children are at risk of abuse and the agencies to report the concerns to. They also demonstrate a suitable understanding of the procedures if a member of staff harms a child. Recruitment procedures are suitable. The provider completes appropriate checks on staff before they begin work in the nursery.

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Due date

ensure all staff know and understand their role in assessing and minimising risks, particularly when supervising children 26/05/2022

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Due date

ensure staff are deployed effectively to support children's safety 26/05/2022

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Due date

ensure staff manage children's behaviour in ways that are appropriate to their age and stage of development 26/05/2022

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Due date

12 May 2022 ensure the performance management programme helps staff to improve the quality of their interactions with the children. 26/05/2022

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Due date

use information about children's development effectively to provide challenging and enjoyable learning experiences 18/07/2022

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Due date

ensure staff give children a language- rich experience to build on their communication skills. 18/07/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2578494 Local authority Luton Inspection number 10239966 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Clever Munchkins Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07475966458 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Clever Munchkins Nursery registered in 2020. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above with two at level six. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 5.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 nursery. n This inspection was carried out as a result of a risk assessment, following information received about the provider. n The provider joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The provider and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a planned activity. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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Inspection activities

their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

12 May 2022 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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