Millfield Nursery School

Inspection of Millfield Nursery School Tithby Road, Cropwell Butler, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG12 3AJ

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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 Good

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is not assured. Leaders do not ensure that staff understand and implement the nursery's risk assessment policies and procedures to keep children safe. They do not prevent unauthorised visitors from gaining entry to the premises. Children are not provided with a well-planned or sequenced curriculum and, therefore, do not make the progress they are capable of. Staff offer some activities based on children's interests. However, they do not have a clear understanding of the areas of learning or assess children's development well enough. Consequently, staff do not understand how to support individual children to build on what they already know and can do. During a story session, constant interruptions, such as children being taken for handwashing or preparations for lunch, prevent children from maintaining focus. Additionally, sessions are not adapted to meet the developmental needs of all children, resulting in activities that are either too

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The provision is inadequate

challenging or not stimulating enough. For example, when an activity aimed at developing older children's physical skills involved small parts, staff removed these to ensure the safety of younger children. While this supports safety, it limits opportunities for older, most-able children to engage in appropriate, challenging learning.

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The provision is inadequate

Nevertheless, children arrive happy and enjoy their time at nursery. Staff show genuine care for the children and greet them with a warm welcome. Children are building strong relationships with the staff and enjoy playing with their friends. Overall, staff support children to behave appropriately and help them to begin to understand how to share toys and take turns.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff do not ensure the premises are secure. The entrance gate to the external premises is not locked. Staff leave the playroom doors open where older children play. This means unauthorised persons can gain access to the nursery. This places children at risk of harm. n Leaders and staff do not adequately assess the risks associated with the use of outdoor equipment. For example, they fail to recognise the need for close supervision of very young children as they navigate steep steps on climbing apparatus alongside older children. Despite this, staff provide children with opportunities to run around and negotiate space within the well-resourced outdoor play area. n Staff do not understand how to support children's learning. They do not use routine activities to help children build on what they already know and can do. For example, staff focus on teaching babies colours and counting rather than

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need to do better?

helping their early language acquisition and social skills. Consequently, children do not make the best possible progress.

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need to do better?

9 April 2025 n Staff are not clear about what they want children to learn. They do not plan a curriculum that focuses on closing gaps in children's learning. While staff set out activities they know children will enjoy, they do not purposefully interact with children to help them extend knowledge and develop new skills. Consequently, children run around and are less settled at activities. This does not help children to develop a positive attitude to learning. n Despite weaknesses, staff have a secure understanding of child protection procedures. They are able to identify signs of possible abuse, including those linked to extremism and radicalisation, and know how to report concerns to relevant agencies. All staff hold appropriate first-aid qualifications and are able to respond to minor medical incidents. n Staff promote some aspects of children's self-care. For example, they encourage children to wash their hands before lunch and sit calmly at the table. Older

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need to do better?

children collect their coats ready for outdoor play. n Staff in the baby room encourage babies to listen to stories and sing songs. They respond warmly to babies' babbling and use single words to name some objects. Staff use simple sign language to support the babies' understanding and early communication skills. n Staff develop strong partnerships with parents. Parents speak positively about the care and kindness of the staff. They feel that their children are well cared for and they say that their children are happy to attend. Parents appreciate the regular communication from staff, which provides insight into what their children have been doing during the day. n Staff set clear routines and expectations for the children. For example, children know to line up at the door, ready to go inside for their lunch. Staff offer praise and encouragement and encourage children as they say 'sharing is caring'. This

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need to do better?

helps build children's confidence and self-esteem.

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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

take all reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised persons entering the premises 14/04/2025

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Due date

9 April 2025 ensure staff understand and implement risk assessments that contribute to keeping children safe 25/04/2025

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Due date

ensure that the curriculum is designed and implemented to meet the needs of all children 09/07/2025

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Due date

ensure staff have a good understanding of the areas of learning they teach and the way that young children learn 09/07/2025

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Due date

ensure assessment is clear and helpful to support staff to build on what children already know, and can do. 09/07/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 253400 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10392085 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 42 Number of children on roll 82

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Name of registered person

Dinah Elizabeth Miller & Andrew John Miller Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 0115 9334085 Date of previous inspection 1 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Millfield Nursery School registered in 1989 and is situated in Cropwell Butler, Nottinghamshire. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff. Of these, twelve staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, one at level 4 and one holds a qualification at a degree level. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the provider about the leadership and management of the setting via the telephone. 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 and the deputy manager carried out a joint observation of a physical activity. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

9 April 2025 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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