Melissas Magical Years

Inspection of Melissas Magical Years Lawn Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 2TJ

p.1

Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

p.1

The provision is inadequate

Breaches of the registration requirements have a negative impact on children's learning and welfare. While most children enter the nursery happily, children who have recently started are not supported to build secure emotional bonds. Staff are not always sure about who their key children are and how to cater for their needs. Children are left to sit alone for long periods or passed from one staff member to another. Children are not helped to understand the daily routines. Consequently, they do not feel secure enough to join in with activities and are often unsettled or distressed.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The manager and staff provide an attractive environment and children make independent choices. Children show they can concentrate when resources interest them. For instance, they enjoy drawing pictures and completing jigsaw puzzles. However, staff's expectations for children are not high enough. Although staff have expanded the range of activities for children, these are often poorly planned and do not extend children's learning. Children spend too long sitting passively and often become restless and bored. Therefore, they develop poor attitudes to learning and their progress is compromised. Without adequate support and stimulation, children sometimes lose focus and their behaviour deteriorates. Some staff lack the skills and confidence to manage children's behaviour effectively, which at times leads to a disorganised environment that impairs children's learning.

p.2

need to do better?

n The manager, who also owns the nursery, has not addressed all of the actions raised at the last inspection. She has made some positive changes. For example, she has strengthened the suitability checks on staff and improved risk assessments. However, she does not ensure that all staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Therefore, children's welfare is not assured. n The key-person system is inadequate. Although children are allocated a key person, some parents are unaware of this. Therefore, parents and staff do not establish secure partnerships, to help support children's care and learning needs. Staff do not know their key children well enough. For instance, they are unaware that children speak English as an additional language and may need extra help with their communication. This impairs children's learning and emotional security. n Although staff assess children's development, they do not always identify when

p.2

need to do better?

there are delays in children's learning. Therefore, children do not get adequate support to help close these gaps in their learning. The manager works with other professionals to develop plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, staff do not consistently implement these plans. This puts children at risk of falling further behind in their development.

p.2

need to do better?

24 June 2022 n The curriculum lacks variety and challenge. Children are not encouraged to explore, experiment and solve problems and they receive little support to build on their skills and knowledge. As a result, children, including those who have SEND, children who speak English as an additional language and those who receive funding, do not make adequate progress. n Staff have some opportunities for professional development. However, the manager does not monitor their practice effectively, to ensure that they understand and implement their training. For example, the manager emphasises their support for children's communication skills. She talks about new approaches staff have learned, such as using picture cards to enhance children's understanding. However, staff do not use these strategies during their interactions with children. Furthermore, they routinely demonstrate poor practice which goes unchallenged, such as leaving babies with dummies in their mouths

p.2

need to do better?

for long periods. n Staff do not provide clear and consistent boundaries, to help children understand behavioural expectations. Staff sometimes appear unsure of what to do when children display challenging behaviour, such as snatching toys or taking food from their peers. Therefore, incidents are ignored and children do not learn to regulate their actions. n The manager has improved the menus for children, to ensure that meals are healthy and nutritious. Staff cook healthy recipes with children and encourage them to taste a wide range of foods, including fresh fruit and vegetables. They ensure that children have daily access to outdoor play. This contributes to children's enjoyment of healthy lifestyles. n Overall, most parents are satisfied with the service and say that their children are happy to attend. They appreciate the information that they receive about their children's time at nursery. This includes feedback on children's care

p.3

need to do better?

routines and photos of the nursery activities.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager knows how to recognise signs of abuse in children and understands how to report any safeguarding concerns. She knows the correct procedures to follow if there is an allegation made about a member of staff. Staff induction and training includes information on their safeguarding roles. However, some staff do not know how to identify when children may be at risk from radicalisation and extreme views. This compromises children's welfare. Staff carry out checks on the nursery premises and resources to help minimise any risks to children's safety.

p.3

Due date

ensure consistent strategies for managing children's behaviour are implemented in order for children to have a clear understanding of appropriate boundaries and expectations 22/07/2022

p.4

Due date

implement an effective system for staff supervision, coaching and professional development to raise the quality of teaching and learning experiences for children 22/07/2022

p.4

Due date

strengthen staff understanding of safeguarding, particularly relating to the 'Prevent' duty and risks to children from extreme views and radicalisation 22/07/2022

p.4

Due date

provide an effective key-person system, to establish strong partnerships with parents and ensure that children's care, learning and welfare needs are catered for effectively 22/07/2022

p.4

Due date

ensure that there are affective arrangements in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to help them make the best possible progress. 22/07/2022

p.4

Due date

improve the educational programme and provide a broader range of activities to improve children's engagement and to help them to make good progress in their learning 22/07/2022

p.4

Due date

strengthen assessments of children's development, to swiftly identify where children have delays or gaps in their learning. 22/07/2022

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2619037 Local authority Hillingdon Inspection number 10221408 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Melissa's Magical Years LTD

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 07523171578 Date of previous inspection 12 January 2022

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Melissas Magical Years registered in 2021 and is located in Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The setting is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.30pm, all year round. The setting employs seven staff to work with the children. Of these, five staff hold childcare qualifications from level 2 to level 7. The provider offers funded early education to children aged two, three and four years.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed activities and interactions between children and staff, to evaluate the quality of the education. n Parents, staff and children shared their views and experiences with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector met with the manager to discuss leadership issues, such as the recruitment, training and support for staff. n The manager ensured that documents were available for the inspector to view, this includes staff's suitability checks and paediatric first-aid certificates. n The manager showed the inspector around the nursery premises, she explained how they organise the environment and learning programmes for children.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

24 June 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7