Meadow Hill Education and Arts Nursery

Inspection of Meadow Hill Education and Arts Nursery 707 Chorley New Road, Lostock, BOLTON BL6 4AQ

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Inspection date: 20 May 2024 - 10 July 2024

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

The curriculum is not designed carefully enough. The key knowledge and skills that children need to learn and build progressively are not planned or delivered to a consistently good standard across the nursery. This means that not all children get the best start to their early education.

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The provision requires improvement

The passionate nursery provider is ambitious for what children can achieve. They pride themselves on providing children with a rich set of experiences that enhance some of their learning. Older children are taught a range of physical skills in sports and dance. They experience the wider world through trips into the community and to the local museum. Children are also taught how to speak words in other languages, and parents clearly value these experiences for their children.

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The provision requires improvement

The nursery is effective in helping to identify when children are falling behind in their learning. Much valued support is provided to the families of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. However, there are times when children do not get the support needed to help them remain engaged and fully included. This means that not all children enjoy, or get the most from, the activities provided.

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The provision requires improvement

Children are well cared for. They arrive confidently and ready to start their day. At an early stage, children form strong friendships. They learn to wait for turns and to share resources. The strong partnerships that the nursery has developed with other professionals, support children to transition positively to school when the time comes.

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need to do better?

n The nursery continues to provide valuable care and education for many children, maintaining what they have delivered successfully over many years. However, the provider has not carefully reflected on the organisation of the provision to help them make improvements over time. As a result, there are breaches in legal requirements. Although there is no significant impact on children's well-being, required records, such as for attendance and first-aid treatment, have not been maintained. This hinders the safe and consistently effective management of the provision for children. n Staff are motivated and keen to do their best for all the children attending. There is clear and effective support for staff's well-being and for professional development. However, the provider does not make the most of the expertise in the leadership team to help them plan and deliver a consistently effective curriculum. As a result, not all children are learning as effectively as they should.

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need to do better?

n Although the nursery premises are meticulously presented and safe, the learning

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need to do better?

20 May 2024 environment is not consistently well organised. In some rooms, there is limited play space and resources for the number of children. Additionally, not all children are taken outside daily, as is required and essential for their good health. The curriculum supports older children to develop their coordination and small- and large-muscle movements. However, the physical development of younger children is less-well considered. The outside space and resources in the immaculately tended garden are not used to nurture children's natural curiosity. n Staff are not consistently deployed in a way that provides high-quality experiences for all children. Each group has a room leader who knows the children well and periodically liaises with parents. However, the nursery does not implement a key-person system, as is required. While the older children benefit from ample staff support, this is not the same for all children. Staff sometimes

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need to do better?

move between groups to provide care or specific teaching. This makes it tricky for them to have a deep knowledge of children's individual learning needs. At times, teaching does not build on children's capabilities, and learning is less effective for some. n Not all staff understand how to design activities that support all children to learn well. Much of the curriculum is taught through adult-led and group activities. While some children are eager, follow instructions and confidently recite precise information that they have remembered, the attention of other children wanes. The nursery provides limited opportunities for children to investigate, follow up their own ideas and practise their learning independently. Consequently, children are not deepening their knowledge as securely as possible. n Children's communication and language are promoted well. Staff build children's vocabulary through a broad range of songs, stories and the planned introduction

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need to do better?

of new words. They use their good knowledge of how children's developing listening skills contribute to their early literacy. Children hear and identify the sounds in words. They greatly enjoy singing, and many are becoming confident speakers. n High priority is given to teaching traditional values. On arrival, children confidently say 'good morning'. They use good manners and adhere to routines, such as lining up. However, the nursery's very high expectations for behaviour do not consistently build on children's different levels of understanding. For example, some young children struggle to sit with their hands on their knees. They also struggle to adhere to the strict rule of not touching the cutlery and cups as they wait for lunch to arrive. Sometimes, children are directed or are told 'no' without explanation. This hinders their learning of the reasons for rules and their progress towards regulating themselves.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

maintain a daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises, their hours of attendance and the names of each child's key person 06/09/2024

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Due date

ensure that written permission is obtained from parents and/or carers before administering any medicines, including creams, and keep a written record of each administration 06/09/2024

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Due date

implement an effective key-person system that is shared with parents and helps to ensure that every child's learning is tailored to their individual needs. 06/09/2024

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should:

n clarify the curriculum intentions and share with staff how these are to be implemented throughout the nursery, to help provide all children with enjoyable experiences that are well matched to their levels of development n improve the planning and organisation of the learning environment to support children to lead their own play and thinking, both inside and outside, more often n reflect on the nursery's rules and boundaries, and build all staff's expertise in sensitively supporting all children's understanding of them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 316022 Local authority Bolton Inspection number 10339190 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 53 Number of children on roll 70 Name of registered person Meadow Hill Education and Arts Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01204 492 497 Date of previous inspection 4 July 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Meadow Hill Education and Arts Nursery registered in 1990 and is situated in the Lostock area of Bolton. The nursery employs 18 staff in total, and 13 of the childcare staff are qualified to at least level 3 in childcare. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year, closing for Christmas and bank holidays only. Funded early education is provided for children aged two, three and four years.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Kelly Little Angela Rowley Alison Regan

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Inspection activities

n The inspection started on 20 May 2024. Inspectors returned on 10 July 2024 to gather additional evidence in line with 'Ofsted inspections and visits: Deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy'. n An inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the head of education. n Inspectors spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n Inspectors spoke to children during the inspection. n Inspectors observed a range of activities and routines with different groups of children. n Inspectors looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n An inspector carried out a learning walk of the nursery with the deputy manager and discussed the curriculum and safety and suitability of the premises.

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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

20 May 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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