Ofsted
The nursery received an Ofsted Inspection on 26th April 2022. The Ofsted report highlighted many positive aspects of our nursery provision resulting in a “good” outcome.
From the Ofsted Report April 2022, we can say that the manager and the rest of the staff have strong relationships with the children, their families and have a good understanding of the learning and development requirements of Montessori. For example, the children arrive happily and settle quickly in the care of the pre-school staff. They are secure in the routines staff provide; the children develop independence as they
learn to hang up their own coats and help prepare a snack for the group. The
manager has a clear ethos based on the ‘Montessori’ approach. Children learn how
to make their own choices about learning and use natural resources. They
concentrate as they pour water from a small jug into containers and use resources
to learn about number patterns.
The Staff build positive relationships with children and their families. While parents do
not enter the building due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they comment on how well
staff communicate with them about their children’s learning. Parents of children
with special educational needs and/or disabilities feel supported by the caring staff.
They comment how delighted they are at the progress their children make. Staff
celebrate children’s learning and achievements with parents on collection.
Staff ensure younger children have plenty of time to settle in. They support them
effectively, for example by providing resources that interest them. For instance,
children enjoy playing with model tractors on a play farm. Children behave well.
Older children enjoy learning to be part of a group and join in with singing and
counting together. Staff engage with the children, tuning into their interests and
talking with them about their ideas. Children learn to play cooperatively as they
shop together in the role play garden centre. Staff encourage children to develop
confidence and play socially together, for example when they share toy vehicles
and play together with a garage and road mat. The manager is proactive in developing the setting. She has completed training as a forest school leader and is developing the outdoor area for children to
explore. Children enjoy looking at the bluebells growing and are fascinated by
butterflies flying past. Children develop physically as they play in the large
garden. They learn about safety as they ride around on balance bikes and
challenge themselves to walk along a wooden balancing beam. Younger children
delight in running and chasing each other around on the grass. They freely
explore the space and benefit from plenty of exercise and fresh air.
The Staff interact with children effectively, helping to develop their language skills.
They introduce new vocabulary as the children play with clay, using words such
as ‘slimy’, ‘sticky’ and ‘wet.’ Staff teach songs through the day to accompany
routines, such as tidying up. They read stories to children, who listen with
attention and interest. Older children are enthusiastic as they join in with rhymes
to help them learn about the initial sounds in words.