The Little Kew Nursery

Inspection of The Little Kew Nursery Barn Church, Atwood Avenue, Richmond TW9 4HF

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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 significant weaknesses in leadership and management, as well as safeguarding arrangements, in the nursery. These weaknesses compromise children's safety. For example, managers do not deploy staff adequately, especially in the toddler and pre-school room. On several occasions, new and inexperienced staff are left to supervise children without the necessary guidance. Staff become overwhelmed and frustrated, which in turn hinders children's learning and development.

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The provision is inadequate

The quality of education at this nursery is inadequate. This is because staff lack the necessary knowledge and skills to implement a well-structured and ambitious curriculum. This leads to older children becoming bored and restless. As a result, they often misuse resources, such as pulling a ball of yarn around the room and wrapping themselves in it. Additionally, children use toys as makeshift skates indoors, standing and gliding on them, which poses safety risks. Although staff observe this behaviour, they do not remove the risk or explain to children the consequences of their actions on themselves and others. In the baby room, staff provide children with random toys to keep them occupied until the next part of the daily routine.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff build trusting relationships with parents and carers and assist them in settling their children into the nursery. Parents agree that their children, especially the new ones, have adapted happily to the nursery. Children show social confidence in the presence of unfamiliar adults.

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need to do better?

n Staff deployment is ineffective. This is because managers fail to ensure that staff supervise children adequately. They often occupy themselves with cooking chores in the kitchen. As a result, new and inexperienced staff are left to manage and support children without the necessary guidance. This situation poses a risk to children's safety on several occasions. n Staff struggle to manage children's behaviour appropriately. They fail to explain to children the consequences of their actions, such as when they are screaming or running indoors. Staff often fail to recognise when children are bored and restless. They set unrealistic expectations, such as asking children to sit and listen to a story despite their disengagement. Additionally, staff fail to address instances when children use resources inappropriately, such as building bricks, in a timely manner. This poses a significant safety risk to children.

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need to do better?

n The provider fails to ensure that all staff, including new and inexperienced staff, receive the necessary support and coaching. While they require that staff complete first-aid training, this alone is not enough to ensure that children

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need to do better?

21 August 2025 receive high-quality care and education. Although managers are suitably qualified, they do not demonstrate good practice. Instead, they leave staff to take on the responsibility of supporting children's learning and behaviour. This does not prepare children adequately for the next stage of their learning or school. n Staff implement a key-person system, which allows them to observe and assess children's learning. However, they design a basic and unimaginative curriculum. As a result, much of children's learning occurs incidentally, rather than purposefully. When planned activities do take place, staff either leave children to work independently or end the activities abruptly. This does not motivate children to learn. Additionally, staff use limited language when interacting with children. Consequently, children, including those who speak English as an additional language, do not make adequate progress from their starting points in

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need to do better?

development. n The provider considers the layout of the nursery to enable children to move around freely, indoors and outdoors. They conduct necessary checks to assess staff's suitability to work with children. The provider has reflected on a previous incident to prevent it from recurring. n Staff are trained to recognise the signs of abuse and how to escalate concerns to the relevant agencies. They understand the nursery's whistle-blowing policy and adhere to its guidelines regarding smoking and vaping. n Staff ensure that children have regular outdoor play opportunities, using ride-on toys to develop their physical skills. They promote hygiene by encouraging handwashing during cooking and mealtimes. This approach helps to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of diseases. n The provider acknowledges their responsibility to inform Ofsted about significant events. However, they do not accurately evaluate their practice. Consequently,

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need to do better?

the provider lacks clear oversight of the impact of identified weaknesses, such as staff's teaching skills on children. They also lack the necessary rigour and competence for their role.

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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

21 August 2025 improve staffing arrangements to ensure that they are suitable to meet the needs of children and ensure their safety 30/09/2025

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Due date

develop and use effective strategies to manage children's behaviour in an appropriate way that helps children to understand what is expected of them 30/09/2025

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Due date

implement effective procedures for supervision sessions, coaching and mentoring to improve the quality of staff's practice. 30/09/2025

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Due date

plan and implement a broad and ambitious curriculum that builds on children's existing skills and knowledge. 20/10/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2801198 Local authority Richmond Upon Thames Inspection number 10411791 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 50 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Little Kew Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07473125059 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Little Kew Nursery registered in 2024 and it is located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The nursery is open all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. There are 13 staff members who work at the nursery. Of these, two staff hold early years qualifications at level 6 and seven staff have qualifications ranging from levels 2 to 3. The nursery provides government funded childcare for all eligible children.

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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 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 Parents shared their views on the quality of the provision. n The inspector spoke with the provider on the telephone to discuss leadership and management matters. n The inspector observed the quality of education, inside and outside, and the impact on children's learning. 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

21 August 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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