Growing Minds Montessori Childcare - Tarporley

Inspection of Growing Minds Montessori Childcare - Tarporley School House Nursery, Chester Road, Kelsall, Tarporley CW6 0ST

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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 not ensured that all staff follow the safeguarding policy and procedures. Staff have received safeguarding training, and there is a safeguarding policy in place that details the use of mobile phones. However, senior managers use their personal mobile phones in the vicinity of the children, which is not in line with the safeguarding policy. Furthermore, the provider has not ensured that staff who prepare food are fully aware of how to do this to minimise the risk of choking. These factors pose a significant risk to children's safety and welfare.

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The provision is inadequate

The provider does not monitor the performance of staff precisely enough. They do not ensure that staff use assessments of children effectively. Staff are not clear about what children need to learn next. The planned curriculum does not support all children's learning. As a result, children do not access a curriculum that is well sequenced and supportive of their individual needs. Additionally, incidents of poor behaviour are not managed well, and children do not receive adequate support to help them understand the expectations.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff are sensitive to the children and offer them comfort and reassurance as needed. Children benefit from some interesting activities such as singing and outdoor play. However, the overall quality of education does not help to prepare children for the next stage of their learning and the eventual move to school.

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need to do better?

n The provider has a safeguarding policy that includes the use of mobile phones. However, the implementation of this is not effective. The provider does not ensure that the policy is followed by leaders. Leaders use their personal mobile phones in areas where children are cared for. Mobile phones are taken into nappy-changing areas. Leaders do not recognise the full impact of this. As a result, the risk of harm to children is increased. n The provider has not ensured that new staff who prepare children's food receive induction training specific to their role. This has resulted in gaps in knowledge and skills with regard to preparing food safely for young children. For example, staff provide young children with food that has not been appropriately cut. This compromises children's safety and poses a choking risk. n The provider has some understanding of the importance of promoting children's health and hygiene. For example, children wash their hands after using the toilet

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need to do better?

or before eating. However, not all hygiene practices fully promote the good health of children or adults. At times, children and adults share washcloths to wash their hands. Additionally, on occasion, children wipe their noses with their hands. Staff do not encourage children to use a tissue or to then wash their hands. The arrangements in place do not help children to understand how to

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need to do better?

30 May 2025 maintain their good health and minimise cross infection. n Assessment of children's learning and development is not effective. Staff do not regularly identify children's next steps in learning. This means that planned activities do not help children develop the skills that they need to learn next. Additionally, completed progress checks at two years old are generic. Parents do not receive information that is specific to their child. This means parents are not given clear guidance on how to help their children learn at home. The planned curriculum and support for parents do not prepare children for the next stage in their learning. n Staff do not support children to understand the behavioural expectations or how their behaviour impacts others. Furthermore, staff ignore incidents of poor behaviour. Some children are happy to play alongside their peers, while others demonstrate a lack of respect for each other and for adults. For example,

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need to do better?

children are observed hitting out, snatching resources, standing on furniture and using disrespectful language to each other and to staff. This creates an unsettled and unsafe learning environment. n Staff build partnerships with parents. They regularly share information about the setting and children through discussions, messages on the online platform and newsletters. Furthermore, some staff have developed positive partnerships with other professionals involved in children's care and education.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

Due date

ensure all staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding policy, and that all staff follow the policy for the use of mobile phones 18/07/2025

p.3

Due date

ensure staff who prepare food have relevant training to complete their role and maintain safety 18/07/2025

p.3

Due date

ensure hygiene practices are effective and that staff consistently promote children's good health 18/07/2025

p.3

Due date

30 May 2025 ensure assessment identifies what children need to learn next and provide parents with information specific to their children 18/07/2025

p.3

Due date

implement strategies to manage children's behaviour more effectively and to help children to understand the expectations. 18/07/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2726132 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10392404 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 37 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Growing Minds Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07850173603 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Growing Minds Montessori Childcare, Tarporley, registered in 2023. The nursery employs four members of childcare staff, three of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.00am until 7pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. 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

30 May 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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