Tiny Crickets Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Tiny Crickets Montessori Nursery 1 Gorway Gardens, Walsall WS1 3BJ

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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

There are breaches to the requirements of the 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage', which negatively impacts on children's safety. Some staff do not have good knowledge of how to identify safeguarding concerns about children. Additionally, leaders do not ensure that safeguarding procedures are implemented effectively in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff. This compromises children's safety.

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The provision is inadequate

The quality of education is weak. The curriculum is not ambitious for all children or understood by staff. Although staff interact with children during their play, they do not enhance children's knowledge and skills effectively. Furthermore, staff do not know children well enough to ensure they are making progress in their learning. Children often wander around the room, occupying themselves or taking toys from one another. Some children are left to play with dummies in their mouths, which hinders their communication and language development. In addition, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are not well supported. Staff do not have the knowledge they need to plan suitable learning opportunities for these children. Leaders do not have effective arrangements in place to support or monitor staff practice. As a result, staff do not provide quality learning experiences for children.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite weaknesses, children appear happy and settled. They sit with staff and receive cuddles from them. Staff share familiar books with children and name characters in the story.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff do not have good enough knowledge of how to identify a safeguarding concern or what to do if an allegation is made against a member of staff. This means that procedures for reporting allegations are not followed and relevant agencies are not notified. Although leaders identify some gaps in staff's safeguarding knowledge, this is not acted on in a timely way to ensure that they have the knowledge needed to identify concerns should they arise. As a result, children are not safeguarded. n Staff do not have a good enough understanding of how to support children's communication and language development effectively. Although some staff talk to children and describe what they are doing during play, they frequently allow children to wander around with dummies in their mouths. Staff do not understand that this hinders opportunities for children to practise new sounds and words. As a result, children do not have opportunities to develop effective

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need to do better?

communication skills. n Staff plan some activities for children. These are based on themes, such as

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need to do better?

23 December 2024 seasonal celebrations. Staff encourage children to take part in these activities; however, they do not meet the learning needs of children. Activities are heavily adult-led, and some staff take resources away that young children are trying to explore. This results in children sitting and watching staff complete craft activities. This means that children do not gain the required learning from the activities on offer. n Staff do not know the children well enough. Although children are assigned a key person, staff are unsure of what children need to learn next. As a result, learning programmes are not tailored to meet children's individual needs to ensure that they make progress in their development. n The arrangements for supervising and supporting staff are not effective. Leaders meet with staff and spend time in playrooms with them. However, they do not identify weaknesses in staff practice swiftly enough or act on this once it is

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need to do better?

recognised. Staff receive some training opportunities. However, these do not have a positive impact on improving experiences for children. As a result, children do not experience a quality learning environment. n Children with SEND are not supported well. They often entertain themselves, with little interaction from staff. Leaders have devised targets for these children that detail what staff should do to help them make progress. However, staff are not aware of these targets, and as a result, children with SEND make little progress in their learning. n Leaders are keen to promote partnership working with parents. Staff speak to parents daily and inform them of what children have been doing. They share information about children's development. Parents comment that children are settled and happy to attend nursery.

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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

ensure leaders and staff know how to identify safeguarding concerns and when to report an allegation against a member of staff 31/01/2025

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Due date

23 December 2024 ensure children's communication and language development is effectively supported 28/02/2025

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Due date

improve the planning and implementation of the curriculum so that children experience high quality learning opportunities 28/02/2025

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Due date

ensure staff know children well enough in order to help them make progress in all areas of learning and development 28/02/2025

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Due date

improve the arrangements for supervision, so staff are provided with the support they need to improve their own knowledge and skills 28/02/2025

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Due date

improve the support for children with SEND so that they receive the support they need to make progress in their learning. 28/02/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2746311 Local authority Walsall Inspection number 10379022 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 38 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Little Crickets Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07866 570602 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Tiny Crickets Montessori Nursery registered in 2023 and is located in Walsall. The nursery operates from Monday to Friday, all year round, except bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 5.30pm. The nursery employs six members of staff. Of these, one holds early years professional status, three hold a relevant qualification at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager 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 Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. 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

23 December 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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