Meadow Hill Education and Arts Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement The curriculum is not designed carefully enough.

The key knowledge and skills that children need to learn and build progressively are not planned or delivered to a consistently good standard across the nursery. This means that not all children get the best start to their early education. The passionate nursery provider is ambitious for what children can achieve.

They pride themselves on providing children with a rich set of experiences that enhance some of their learning. Older children are taught a range of physical skills in sports and dance. They experience the wider world through trips into the community and to the lo...cal museum.

Children are also taught how to speak words in other languages, and parents clearly value these experiences for their children. The nursery is effective in helping to identify when children are falling behind in their learning. Much valued support is provided to the families of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

However, there are times when children do not get the support needed to help them remain engaged and fully included. This means that not all children enjoy, or get the most from, the activities provided. Children are well cared for.

They arrive confidently and ready to start their day. At an early stage, children form strong friendships. They learn to wait for turns and to share resources.

The strong partnerships that the nursery has developed with other professionals, support children to transition positively to school when the time comes.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

The nursery continues to provide valuable care and education for many children, maintaining what they have delivered successfully over many years. However, the provider has not carefully reflected on the organisation of the provision to help them make improvements over time.

As a result, there are breaches in legal requirements. Although there is no significant impact on children's well-being, required records, such as for attendance and first-aid treatment, have not been maintained. This hinders the safe and consistently effective management of the provision for children.

Staff are motivated and keen to do their best for all the children attending. There is clear and effective support for staff's well-being and for professional development. However, the provider does not make the most of the expertise in the leadership team to help them plan and deliver a consistently effective curriculum.

As a result, not all children are learning as effectively as they should.Although the nursery premises are meticulously presented and safe, the learning environment is not consistently well organised. In some rooms, there is limited play space and resources for the number of children.

Additionally, not all children are taken outside daily, as is required and essential for their good health. The curriculum supports older children to develop their coordination and their small- and large-muscle movements. However, the physical development of younger children is less well considered.

Outside space and resources in the immaculately tended garden are not used to nurture children's natural curiosity.Staff are not consistently deployed in a way that provides high-quality experiences for all children. Each group has a room leader who knows the children well and periodically liaises with parents.

However, the nursery does not implement a key-person system, as is required. While the older children benefit from ample staff support, this is not the same for all children. Staff sometimes move between groups to provide care or specific teaching.

This makes it tricky for them to have a deep knowledge of children's individual learning needs. At times, teaching does not build on children's capabilities, and learning is less effective for some.Not all staff understand how to design activities that support all children to learn well.

Much of the curriculum is taught through adult-led and group activities. While some children are eager, follow instructions and confidently recite precise information that they have remembered, the attention of other children wanes. The nursery provides limited opportunities for children to investigate, follow up their own ideas and practise their learning independently.

Consequently, children are not deepening their knowledge as securely as possible.Children's communication and language are promoted well. Staff build children's vocabulary through a broad range of songs, stories and the planned introduction of new words.

They use their good knowledge of how children's developing listening skills contribute to their early literacy. Children hear and identify the sounds in words. They greatly enjoy singing, and many are becoming confident speakers.

High priority is given to teaching traditional values. On arrival, children confidently say good morning. They use good manners and adhere to routines, such as lining up.

However, the nursery's very high expectations for behaviour do not consistently build on children's different levels of understanding. For example, some young children struggle to sit with their hands on their knees. They also struggle to adhere to the strict rule of not touching the cutlery and cups as they wait for lunch to arrive.

Sometimes, children are directed or are told 'no' without explanation. This hinders their learning of the reasons for rules and their progress towards regulating themselves.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date maintain a daily record of the names of the children being cared for on the premises, their hours of attendance and the names of each child's key person 06/09/2024 ensure that written permission is obtained from parents and/or carers before administering any medicines, including creams, and keep a written record of each administration 06/09/2024 implement an effective key-person system that is shared with parents and helps to ensure that every child's learning is tailored to their individual needs.06/09/2024 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: clarify the curriculum intentions and share with staff how these are to be implemented throughout the nursery, to help provide all children with enjoyable experiences that are well matched to their levels of development nimprove the planning and organisation of the learning environment to support children to lead their own play and thinking, both inside and outside, more often reflect on the nursery's rules and boundaries, and build all staff's expertise in sensitively supporting all children's understanding of them.