Luton nursery told to improve teaching and language support after Ofsted visit
A nursery in Luton has been handed a mixed report after being inspected by Ofsted.
Kiddies Kingdom, in Maidenhall Road, was visited by inspectors in April as part of a routine check of the nursery, its staff and how it teaches the children in its care.
Out of six areas of assessment, three were found to require attention from the nursery to get up to the expected standard.
A spokesperson for the nursery said: “While we are pleased that Ofsted recognised many of the strengths within our nursery, we also value the feedback provided to help us continue improving. As a team, we are committed to reflecting on the recommendations and using them as opportunities for growth.
“Improvement is an ongoing journey, and we remain dedicated to creating a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment where children can thrive. We are confident that the actions we are taking will build on our existing strengths and support us in achieving even higher standards in the future.”
Inspectors found inconsistencies in the quality of the teaching.
The report, published this month, read: “For example, staff do not consistently know when to use their interactions with children to extend their learning or talk through activities to develop children's language.
“This means that, at times, staff cannot support children to achieve to the best of their abilities.”
While activities have been planned to focus on the children’s interests, Ofsted said: “... [staff] do not have the skills and knowledge of how to implement this.”
Despite this, leaders were praised for their “passionate commitment” to improving the curriculum.
The nursery was described as a “positive environment” with children and families at the heart of what they do.
Inspectors said: “Staff are gentle and patient. Older children comfort their friends, demonstrating that they learn how to treat others with kindness and care.”
Leaders have action plans in place to support children who speak English as an additional language.
But inspectors said: “Leaders have not ensured that all staff understand how to support children who speak English as an additional language during activities.
“They do not ensure that all staff have the skills to be able to adapt their practice at group activities to include all children.”
Staff were also described as “committed to supporting all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities”.
The report stated: “They work closely with parents and external professionals to ensure that accurate assessments capture children's emerging needs.
“Leaders ensure that referrals are completed in a timely manner, gathering supporting evidence from professionals. This means children have plans in place ready for their move to the next stage of their education.”