Lote Tree Nursery

Inspection of Lote Tree Nursery 72 - 74 Crescent Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 9NT

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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

The provider has failed to ensure the safety of the premises. On the day of inspection, fire exits in the building were not kept free from obstruction. This poses a risk to children in the event of an emergency evacuation. The provider has not ensured that risk assessments are effective or that they inform staff practice. Parts of the premises are not suitably maintained. For example, fences in the outdoor play area have sharp wooden pieces, which could cause injury. The setting acted quickly on the day of inspection to remove some hazards as they were identified. Deployment of staff is not effectively planned, as a result children are sometimes cared for by staff who they are not familiar with. On these occasions, staff do not know children well enough to meet their needs.

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The provision is inadequate

This setting is newly opened and has been impacted by current recruitment issues. As a result, sufficient time has not been given to establishing the curriculum, or to supporting staff to implement it effectively. Staff do not have a shared understanding of what they want children to learn, or the skills they want them to develop as they move through the setting. Children have limited access to a suitably challenging curriculum or purposeful learning. There is not sufficient time given to monitoring the curriculum, or to coaching to raise the quality of teaching. This said, staff are generally motivated, and they show a caring approach. They warmly welcome children and want to do their best for the children in their care. As a result, children do settle and they are generally happy to attend.

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need to do better?

n The provider has not ensured that all areas of the premises that children occupy, are safe, well maintained and fit for purpose. For example, some of the radiators are too hot and could cause injury to a child. The provider has not taken reasonable steps to minimise risks in the outdoor play area. For example, plastic sheeting, plastic bags, twigs and boxes are stacked in the outdoor play area. This increases the risk of children injuring themselves. n Risk assessments are completed daily in both the indoor and outdoor areas. However, these do not always inform staff practice. For example, risk assessments highlight water collecting in the outdoor area, this is not swept away before children go out to play. This does not create a safe environment for children. In addition, staff fail to notice other hazards, such as trailing wires and cleaning solutions that are within easy reach of children. These pose a risk to

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need to do better?

children's safety. n Staff are shown emergency evacuation routes at induction; however, some evacuation routes are not clearly labelled. This could cause delay in children and adults leaving the building in an emergency. Furthermore, on the day of inspection some fire doors had been obstructed with bags and boxes. The

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need to do better?

23 April 2025 setting responded quickly to remove these, however, more bags were placed in front of the door during the day. This causes a risk to safe evacuation in the case of an emergency. n The curriculum is not planned with clear or sequenced intent for children's learning. Many staff are new to the setting. They are working hard to get to know the children, but do not have enough knowledge to suitably target learning to children's current interests or needs. Children disengage. They flit between activities, rarely concentrating. Staff ask children to follow the routine, and they say 'no'. This does not install positive attitudes towards learning. n On arrival at the setting, staff collect information from parents regarding children's care needs. For example, they discuss how babies have eaten, so they know when they might be hungry. Staff pick up on children's cues, for example they note young children rubbing their eyes and gently pat them to sleep.

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need to do better?

However, the deployment of staff means that children are sometimes passed between workers, including when part way through care tasks, such as feeding or being put to sleep. This does not support children's sense of security. n The setting shows a good general capacity to improve. However, the current support to improve practice is not secure or effective in improving outcomes for children. Processes for effective supervision of staff are not established. Due to a high number of management tasks for leaders, minimal time is currently spent on induction and supervision arrangements for staff, including coaching and mentoring. Therefore, staff are not supported to build their knowledge of how children learn or how to improve the outcomes for children. n The setting has failed to notify Ofsted of significant events. The setting cannot demonstrate a secure knowledge of the times that they should notify Ofsted of

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need to do better?

significant events. This can pose a risk to the safety of children and the suitability of those caring for children. n Staff do not have enough information about children who attend with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This is in part due to the high number of new staff and the lack of an embedded key-person system, resulting in staff not having specific information about the children they care for. For example, staff are not aware of all the plans in place from other professionals to support children with SEND. As a result, children with SEND are not supported to make adequate progress.

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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 the premises are safe, fit for purpose and suitable for the ages of children being cared for 27/05/2025

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Due date

ensure that risk assessment informs staff practice to minimise risks to staff and children 27/05/2025

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Due date

ensure that fire doors are free from obstruction so that they are easily accessible in the event of an emergency evacuation 27/05/2025

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Due date

ensure that emergency exits are clearly identifiable with appropriate signage to enable children, staff and others on the premises know where to exit in the case of an emergency evacuation 27/05/2025

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Due date

ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for the induction and supervision of staff, and that these provide coaching and training that promotes the interests of children 31/05/2025

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Due date

ensure there are arrangements in place to support children with SEND to make good progress in their learning and development 31/05/2025

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Due date

ensure that the curriculum is implemented effectively to offer quality learning and development experiences for children 31/05/2025

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Due date

ensure the deployment of staff is planned so that children remain in the care of staff they are familiar with and who know them well enough to meet their needs. 31/05/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2821454 Local authority Manchester Inspection number 10397298 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 96 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Lote Tree Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07725986468 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Lote Tree Nursery registered in 2025 and is located in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold an early years qualification at level 6, two at level 3, and three at level 2. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery provides government funded places.

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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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The 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 talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector observed the curriculum indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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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 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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