Ofsted’s recent inspection reveals significant concerns at Harlow’s Sunflower Maunds pre-school, highlighting issues in leadership and management.
Harlow: A pre-school in Harlow has just been rated “Inadequate” by Ofsted after an inspection on October 4th. The Sunflower Maunds pre-school received mixed feedback, with staff being praised but serious concerns raised about leadership.
According to the report, the provider doesn’t visit often enough and fails to support the staff adequately. While the staff are doing their best to improve the curriculum, they lack the guidance needed to make real progress. Kids seem to enjoy their time there, but there are missed chances for staff to help them grow and prepare for their next learning steps.
Children are happy and feel safe, thanks to the friendly and caring staff. They build strong relationships, which gives them a sense of belonging. However, the interactions from staff don’t always boost the kids’ learning and communication skills as much as they should.
New staff, including those in management, haven’t received the right training, leaving them feeling a bit lost. Concerns from staff often go unresolved, which can lead to low morale. The provider hasn’t ensured there are enough professional development opportunities, and staff can’t access the online learning platform to improve their skills.
On top of that, the paperwork is a bit of a mess. While checks on staff are done, the provider doesn’t keep current information organized, making it hard to manage the setting safely and efficiently. Staff do know how to handle concerns about a child’s welfare, but the documented procedures aren’t up to date.
There are also issues with staff not having the right experience to manage children’s specific needs. Guidance from professionals for kids with additional needs isn’t shared well, which means staff can’t fully support their development.
Despite these challenges, kids enjoy exploring and leading their own play. Staff read with them and encourage independence, but they sometimes don’t have the garden and equipment ready, which can lead to kids getting restless.
Overall, while there are some effective safeguarding measures in place, the management needs to step up to ensure a better experience for both staff and children.
