Mountlands Day Nursery

Inspection of Mountlands Day Nursery 36 Vicarage Road, Gloucester GL1 4LD

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is inadequate

Although the leadership team has employed a new manager and made some changes since the last inspection, these actions have not improved the quality of the provision. There are significant weaknesses in practices and procedures. Risk assessment procedures are not effective, which puts children's safety at risk, particularly when they are outdoors. Due to weaknesses in the induction procedures and lack of support and supervision for staff, staff lack a good enough understanding of their role and responsibilities, and their interactions with children are weak.

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The provision is inadequate

The design and the intent of the curriculum remain weak and do not have a strong enough focus on what leaders want children to learn. Staff do not get the support they need to help them understand the curriculum so they can provide targeted and purposeful learning opportunities. As a result, children do not receive the support and challenge that they need to help them to make progress in their learning. Children become bored and run around the playroom. They struggle to share the resources and often snatch toys from each other. Although staff intervene, they do not help children learn how to manage their feelings in an appropriate way because they do not know how to. Children spend time wandering around with little or no interaction from staff. When staff do interact with children, they do not impact positively on children's learning. For instance, when children are interested in insects they find in the garden, instead of helping children to identify

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The provision is inadequate

the insects, staff tell them that they do not know what they are and ignore the children's requests to learn.

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need to do better?

n Weaknesses to leaders' and staff's knowledge and understanding of how to identify and reduce risks place children at risk of harm. Although they carry out checks of the garden before children go out to play, staff do not consider the risk of children playing with the poisonous berries from a holly bush or the ivy growing where children play. Furthermore, they leave boxes of heavy toys stacked up high in the playhouse, where children play independently. In addition, at mealtimes, leaders encourage children to put large pieces of hard garlic bread, which are too big for them to chew, into their mouths, and they do not see the potential risk of a child choking. n Leaders do not ensure that staff know and understand their roles and responsibilities. The induction that staff receive is ineffective, and staff do not receive supervision to help identify and address any weaknesses in their practice. This means that staff are unclear of day-to-day procedures and are

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need to do better?

unable to deliver a curriculum that meets children's needs. Staff spend too much time simply watching children play, as they do not know how to support

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need to do better?

3 January 2024 children's learning. n Although the new manager has designed a new curriculum and planning procedures, she has not ensured that staff have received any training or support on how to implement these or to help them understand what children need to learn. Children do not receive the challenge that they need to help them to make good progress in their learning. For example, they enjoy role playing on a pretend bus, but they soon lose interest, as staff do not provide any direction to extend their ideas or challenge what they already know. Staff do not provide learning based on children's next steps. For example, staff encourage children to join dots together to form letters when they are playing outside and standing up. Staff get them to try to write when they are not developmentally ready to do so. Children do not receive the right support to develop the skills that they need for future learning.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy having opportunities to play outside in the garden with the large ride-in cars and bicycles. n Leaders and staff take part in child protection training. They understand their responsibilities to monitor children's welfare and to report any concerns that they have about children's well-being.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

improve risk assessment processes so that risks are identified and reduced, to help keep children safe 05/01/2024

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Due date

plan and deliver a broad, ambitious and stimulating curriculum that builds on every child's knowledge and skills and helps them to make good progress in their learning 31/01/2024

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Due date

provide staff with effective support and coaching to raise the quality of their interactions with children, to support children's engagement in learning 31/01/2024

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Due date

3 January 2024 provide staff with effective induction and supervision, to help them understand their roles and responsibilities and provide children with good-quality learning experiences. 31/01/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY549276 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10318062 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

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Sparkling Angels Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01452 506880 Date of previous inspection 26 September 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Mountlands Day Nursery registered in 2018 and is situated in Gloucester. It is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except for one week over Christmas and Easter. The nursery has six members of staff who work with the children, all of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 3. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 deputy manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. 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 inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to parents, staff and children during the inspection and took account of 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

3 January 2024 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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