Chapel Grange Montessori Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 24/01/2005 Inspector Name Susan, Helen Spencer

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Chapel Grange Montessori Nursery Setting Address Chapelstead, Dean Row Road Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 2BU

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name Chapel Grange Montessori Nursery Ltd 3137138

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Chapel Grange Montessori Nursery Ltd Address Unit 2, Asher Court Lyncastle Way, Barleycastle Lane, Appleton Warrington Cheshire WA4 4ST

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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

Chapel Grange Montessori Nursery is a 28 place day care facility for children aged two to five years, which is run according to the Montessori philosophy. The nursery is open from 08:00 until 18:00 and is split into an a.m. and a p.m. session. Children may attend from three sessions per week up to full time. Currently, there are 16 funded children on roll. The setting caters for children for whom english is an additional language. Most of the staff employed in the Nursery have NNEB or national child care qualifications, as well as the Montessori Diploma.

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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?

The educational programme offered at Chapel Grange Montessori Nursery is very good and ensures that the children are making very good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the early learning goals and ensure that all areas of learning are very good, with no weaknesses. Staff plan an effective programme of activities, closely linked with assessments of the children's attainment and progress for most children, to ensure that they build on what they already know. However, a few children, although assessed by their progress in the Montessori programme, are not currently assessed according to their progress towards the early learning goals. Staff challenge the children effectively, using appropriate methods for both three and four year olds. Staff have high expectations of the children's behaviour and provide a

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How effective is the nursery education?

calm and stimulating learning environment. Leadership and management of the setting is very good. Staff work effectively as a team and each member of staff is aware of their roles and responsibilities within the group. The manager meets with staff regularly to discuss any problems or concerns that arise. This has a positive impact on the quality of the educational provision for the children. Partnership with parents and carers is strong overall. Parents are given good quality information about the setting and its provision. Planning is available to parents and staff regularly speak to parents at the beginning and end of every session. Staff hold regular parents evenings to share knowledge of the children's attainment and progress. Parents report that they feel very involved in their child's learning.

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What is being done well?

• The programme of activities for each area of learning are very good, with no areas of weakness and make a positive contribution to the child's ability to work effectively towards the early learning goals. • Staff manage the children well, setting high standards for behaviour. • Staff regularly undertake training to ensure that the provision is of a high standard. • Staff challenge the children effectively, using appropriate methods for both three and four year olds. • Partnership with parents is strong. Staff strive to ensure close liaison with families.

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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

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What needs to be improved?

• assessment procedures to ensure that each child's progress towards the early learning goals is clear.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Following the last inspection, the setting were asked to address two key issues. Progress with these has been very good. They have developed the provision for music and the children now have free access throughout the session. The staff have improved the opportunities for the children to write their own names and many can now do this, with appropriate use of upper and lower case letters.

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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 enter the setting keen, eager and motivated to learn. All children are very involved in the activities provided and are growing well in confidence, the younger chldren enjoy retelling stories using puppets and the older children are confident to read their favourite story to the others. Children are forming good relationships with each other. They are developing a high level of independence. They serve lunch to each other and volunteer for jobs on the ''Job Chart'' every day.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Children use imaginative language to describe the weather. They tackle new words successfully when talking about birds. They talk about their feelings with ease when relaxing in the comfort corner. They are able to hear the initial letter sounds when working in circle time and use sand paper letters to begin to learn the letter names. The older children are beginning to build simple words in their reading. All children enjoy reading books and choose them as a free choice activity.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children are able to count the shoulders of all the children in the group successfully. They know a wide range of number rhymes and songs which are used to support their learning well. The children successfully sort acorns by a variety of criteria. The younger children are able to combine numbers practically, the older ones using a number line to count forwards and backwards. The children select items to compare weights, using language including more than and less than appropriately.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good The children delight in watching a sponge absorb coloured water on a tray. They are able to tell the temperature on a thermometer inside and predict that it will be colder outside. The children observe rainfall over a period of time. The children develop a sense of time when completing the date chart daily. The children observe environmental changes during autumn and winter and record the changes well.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children balance well on the tree stumps in the garden. They are developing their climbing skills on the climbing frame and are able to slide down the slide with ease, lifting their feet to go faster. The children pour lentils and water from one container to another with accuracy and use their tool banch, using chisels, saws and hammers in their play.

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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: Very Good The children use a variety of materials to make their creative work interesting. They make hedgehogs from twigs and leaves, using magnifying glasses to look closely at leaves they have collected. The children enjoy singing and regularly experiment with instruments throughout the session. The children take part in baking activities, describing what they see, feel and taste imaginatively.

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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: • There are no significant weaknesses to report, but consideration should be given to the following: • implement a consistent assessment procedure for recording each child's progress towards the early learning goals.

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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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