Preston St Matthew's Church of England Primary School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 01/03/2005 Inspector Name Judith Harris

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Pillar Box Montessori Nursery Setting Address 107 Bow Road Bow London E3 2AN

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The Committee of Pillar Box Nurseries Ltd. 4260776

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Pillar Box Nurseries Ltd. Address 49 Fairfield Road London E3 2QA

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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ABOUT THE INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public that the nursery education for funded three and four year old children is of an acceptable quality. Inspection of nursery education also identifies strengths and weaknesses so that providers can improve the quality of educational provision and help children to achieve the early learning goals (elgs) by the end of the Foundation Stage. This inspection report must be made available to all parents. If the setting has been inspected previously, an action plan will have been drawn up to tackle issues identified. This inspection, therefore, must also assess what progress has been made in the implementation of this plan.

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Information about the setting

Pillar Box Montessori Nursery opened in 1995. It operates from a five storey Victorian house situated on the Bow Road in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The premises is used solely for childcare. There are currently 45 children from 2 to 8 years on roll. This includes 14 funded 3 year olds and 4 funded 4 year olds. It is open 5 days a week 49 weeks of the year and sessions are from 08.00 until 18:55. The setting currently supports a number of children with special needs and who speak English as an additional language. The group employs 8 staff to who have early years child care qualification and 4 are additionally trained as Montessori practitioners. The setting receives support from a mentor from the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP).

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Information about the setting

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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How effective is the nursery education?

Pillar Box Montessori Nursery supports children's learning ensuring they make very good progress towards the early learning goals (elg). The nursery use a balance of Montessori teaching methods and the Early Years curriculum. There is a range of resources for both teaching styles and adults make effective use of these to plan and provide a range of activities and experiences that cover all six elg. There are high levels of positive interaction between children and adults and appropriate levels of adult support allowing children time and space to develop problem solving skills. Staff show a clear understanding of the foundation stage and the elg's and planning is linked to these. Observations allow adults to have in-depth knowledge of the children and to plan and provide challenges that meet individual needs and help them to build on what they already know. The nursery supports children with English an additional language and children with

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How effective is the nursery education?

special needs. The children are well behaved and adults are good roles models using positive strategies for managing behaviour which are consistently applied. The management and leadership of the nursery Is very good. The nursery has a manager and a deputy. The room leaders in the pre-school rooms are Montessori practitioners. The staff plan as a team to provide an environment where children's learning is supported and there is a system of ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the education. The staff have team meetings where they discuss and assess planning and activities to support individual children's learning. The nursery makes positive use of the advisory teacher input to support them to improve the care and education of the children. The nursery's partnership with parents is very good. Parents are provided with good quality information when their child starts and then ongoing information about their

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How effective is the nursery education?

children's progress. Parents make positive comments about the provision.

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What is being done well?

• Children play well together, they share and take turns. The children have very good levels of personal independence and good levels of awareness of the needs and feelings of others. • Children use a very wide range of spoken language, they re-tell narrative using their own words. The children have writing tools and are developing hand-writing skills. •• Children use lots of mathematical language and concepts and they are given the time and space to develop good problem solving skills. • Children celebrate a range of festivals from different cultures and religions. They explore and investigate through a range of natural materials and

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What is being done well?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 objects. • The staff use a good balance of teaching that combines the elg and the Montessori methods. Planning clearly shows how the Montessori teaching links to the elg.

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What needs to be improved?

• the range of opportunities for children to be creative in art, dance, music and role-play.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The nursery provides staff with training to support children with special needs, the nursery excahnge information with parents and share progress records. There are good levels of interaction at outdoor play.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are confident and motivated learners, who have good relationships with both adults and other children; they play co-operatively sharing and taking turns, working in harmony with each other. The children are well behaved and are developing a sensitivity for others feelings. The Montessori methods nurture and develop very good levels of personal independence and the children are beginning to gain a sense of community.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children use a very wide range of language to organise play, describe what they are doing and express their ideas. Children use Montessori methods and resources to develop early writing skills. They have graphics resources and equipment which support them to practise handwriting, become familiar with the alphabet and to begin to link sounds and letters. The children have access to books for both information and enjoyment. The children use books to re-tell a story in their own words.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are developing very good maths skills; they count with confidence. The Montessori resources support the children to become familiar with numbers, to recognise numerals and shapes. They use a range of equipment to develop a sense of space, shape and measure. The children use a wide range of mathematical language, they are developing tessellation skills and an understanding of calculation. Children are given lots of time and space to develop good problem solving skills.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good The children explore and investigate through a range of activities and experiences. The children are able to explore a variety of living and growing things and to investigate the natural world. They use everyday technology and have access to a computer, tools and a range of materials for design. The children talk about their experiences and past events in their lives and the people they live with. They take part in activities that help develop their understanding of cultures and beliefs.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Planning includes outdoor play where children are able to move imaginatively and develop co-ordination. In the garden they have access to bikes and large play equipment. The children move with control and co-ordination showing an awareness of space and each other. Children are provided with a range of equipment, tools and materials which they handle with increasing control. Children are developing an awareness of health and changes in their bodies.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Generally Good At planned activities the children have opportunities to explore colour, texture, shape and form. They have access to range of musical instruments. Singing and music session are planned. Children are offered free painting and creative art activities as part of the theme. There are too few opportunities for children to be creative, to use their imagination and express themselves through art, dance and role-play.

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Children's spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is fostered

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION

The provision is acceptable and is of high quality. Children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. The next inspection will take place in three to four years time.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

There are no significant weaknesses to report, but considerations should be given to improving the following: • No key issues for action were identified at this inspection, the following are points for consideration; • Provide a wider range of opportunities for children to be creative in art, dance, music and role-play.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

The provider must draw up an action plan within 40 working days of receipt of this report showing how the key issues detailed above will be addressed. The action plan must be made available to all parents and to the Local Authority if required. An evaluation of the action taken will form part of the next inspection of funded nursery education.

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WHAT THE SETTING NEEDS TO DO NEXT

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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