The Learning Tree Preschool Ltd

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is inadequate

There are weaknesses in the safeguarding and welfare requirements that have an impact on children's safety and well-being. Leaders have not taken sufficient action following a significant event.

They have not ensured the premises are fit for purpose to ensure children's safety or taken action to ensure risk assessments in place are effective. This compromises children's safety. Despite this, all staff demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of how to report concerns regarding a child's welfare or concerns regarding a colleague's behaviour.

Although there are weaknesses, this does not impact on the quality of teaching ...and education children receive. Children and their families are personally greeted by welcoming staff as they arrive to start their day. Children are quick to engage in a variety of activities that have been carefully planned by staff.

They benefit from a broad and well-balanced curriculum. Activities and play experiences include children's individual interests as well as their own personalised next steps. As a result, children are motivated to learn and sustain focus and attention as they explore and learn new things.

Leaders and staff recognise the importance of building strong relationships with children to help them feel emotionally secure. Consequently, staff work hard to build nurturing and trusting bonds with children. In turn, children show confidence to seek them out for play, comfort and support when needed.

Staff are respectful of children's individual care routines. This supports children to feel valued and helps them develop a positive sense of belonging at the nursery.

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

Leaders have not identified significant weaknesses in the security of the outdoor area they provide for children at this nursery.

As a result, the area is not fit for purpose as it does not ensure children are kept safe. Despite this, children have an abundance of opportunities to promote their physical skills outdoors as they develop their core and small muscles.Following a significant incident, leaders put additional measures in place to assure themselves of children safety.

However, these are not effective. Some staff are not aware of the additional risk assessment procedures in place when children access the outdoor area. Furthermore, leaders have not had sufficient oversight to identify that these additional measures are not put into daily practice by staff.

As such, although risk assessments have been considered, they are not effective. This continues to compromise children's safety.Leaders ensure there are adequate staff for the number of children that attend.

However, they have not identified weaknesses in the supervision arrangements of children during mealtimes. For example, children help themselves to other children's food and consume this. This generally goes unnoticed by staff but, on occasions, staff do notice and do not challenge children doing this.

This does not promote children's health and well-being, especially those who may have allergies or dietary requirements.Staff understand the importance of promoting children's health and hygiene. They ensure all children wash their hands after using the toilet or before eating.

Staff provide age-appropriate explanations as they teach children why this is important. This helps children develop an understanding of how to keep themselves healthy. However, leaders have not taken action to ensure all hygiene practices fully promote children's or staff's good health.

For instance, they do not ensure all children or staff have opportunities to wash their hands with warm water. This impacts on the arrangements in place for maintaining good hygiene.Children's communication and language are well promoted.

Staff tailor their communication to meet the needs of individual children. They use gesture and exaggerated facial expressions alongside simple, repetitive language for the youngest children. Older children are supported with back-and-forth discussions as they develop their conversational skills.

Staff recognise when children need time to pause, process information and respond. This enables children time to develop their own thinking skills and build on their growing vocabulary.Staff thoughtfully intertwine mathematics into everyday interactions and activities.

This successfully introduces even the youngest children to early mathematics. For instance, staff introduce basic numbers and mathematical language as children explore sensory activities, using words, such as 'lots, more' and 'empty'.Staff are positive role models to children.

They consistently and sensitively reinforce appropriate behavioural expectations. Staff swiftly offer support when any minor conflicts arise between children, to help them manage their growing feelings. This contributes to children's good behaviour.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.There is not 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, the provider must: Due date take action to ensure the premises are safe, suitable and fit for purpose, with particular regard to the outdoor provision and arrangements for maintaining good hygiene 21/02/2025 implement a rigorous system for risk assessment to ensure children are not exposed to risks, and that hazards are identified and managed effectively and promptly 21/02/2025 ensure children are adequately supervised when eating to ensure their safety.

21/02/2025