An Ofsted inspection of St Michael's Nursery in Harlesden, Brent, conducted on May 22, has revealed that some children are not fully prepared for their next stage of learning due to inconsistent support. The report, published earlier this month, identified five areas needing attention and outlined actions for the leadership team to improve outcomes.
Positive relationships but lack of purposeful activities
Inspectors praised the nursery for providing a warm and welcoming environment where children feel included, valued, and well cared for. Staff form positive relationships with children, and safety and welfare are given high priority. However, the report highlighted that some activities lack a clear learning purpose, leading children to lose interest and move on to other tasks.
The report states: 'Staff do not plan how activities should support children's development, and they do not hold children's attention. As a result, children engage only briefly before losing interest and moving on to find something else to do.' This means that some children do not consistently build on what they already know and can do, and have fewer opportunities to practise skills independently or extend their learning further.
Inconsistent routines and hygiene practices
While staff support children to understand rules and routines, such as lining up to wash hands after lunch, these are not consistently managed. Children wait for considerable lengths of time during lunchtime and at the end of the day without purposeful activity or engagement from staff. Hygiene practices were also noted as inconsistent.
Expectations set by staff are not applied consistently, with some staff raising their voices excessively rather than using more effective strategies to support children's behaviour. Staff demonstrated limited knowledge of learning intentions and how they directly support children's development. The report concludes: 'Therefore, children's learning is happening more by chance. Staff do not purposefully use their assessments of children to plan for and build upon what children already know and can do.'
Leadership acknowledges weaknesses
Inspectors noted that the leadership team recognises the areas requiring improvement and has started to reflect on these weaknesses, taking initial steps to address them. Leaders and staff take action to reduce barriers to learning, including attending training sessions to intervene with children struggling with speech and language. The report also highlighted that leaders prioritise children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those known to children's social care, and those facing barriers to learning and wellbeing.
Required improvements
Ofsted identified several actions the nursery must take to enhance outcomes: improve and embed an education programme that consistently engages children; improve the quality of teaching and staff interactions; improve the physical environment to ensure it is well organised and accessible; and strengthen hygiene practices to help children understand the importance of positive hygiene.
St Michael's Nursery was approached for comment but did not respond ahead of publication.
