Hidelow Grange School

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 03/03/2004 Inspector Name Jean Ainsworth-Smith

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Streatham Montessori Setting Address 66 Blairderry Road London SW2 4SB

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REGISTERED PROVIDER 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

Streatham Montessori Nursery is a privately owned nursery, situated close to Streatham Hill Station. The nursery mostly serves families from the local area. It occupies the ground floor of a residential property and there is access to a secure garden area. There are currently 33 children from 2 to 5 years on roll. This includes 18 funded 3 year olds and 3 funded 4 year olds. The setting supports a number of children who have English as an additional language. It also provides support to children with special educational needs. The nursery is open from 08:30 to 17.30 throughout the year except for one week in the summer and a week at Christmas. It is open from Monday to Friday and offers both full and part time places. Six members of staff work with the children. They hold a range of childcare qualifications including Montessori teaching diplomas. The nursery follows Montessori teaching methods. Montessori methods and equipment are used to promote the children's learning

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Information about the setting

and the nursery is well resourced with Montessori equipment and other play materials. The staff team hold a range of child care qualifications including Montessori teaching diplomas.

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Information about the setting

The nursery occupies the ground floor of a residential property and has access to a secure garden area, which has been fully covered with a safety surface. This is a privately owned nursery and mostly serves families from the local area although there is no catchment area admissions criteria. The premises are situated close to Streatham Hill train station and local bus routes.

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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?

Streatham Montessori offers high quality provision, which helps children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals. The quality of teaching is very good. The staff have a good knowledge of the foundation stage and the principles of Montessori education. They combine these to plan an interesting and appropriate range of activities to help children learn. The programme for creative development is very good overall; it would be enhanced further with the provision of more opportunities for children's imaginations to be fostered through more free painting activities. The children behave well in response to the high expectations and support of staff. There is a good range of equipment, which staff use well to support children's progress in all areas of learning. Activities are well managed. Careful observations and recording sheets are used to check and record children's progress towards the early learning goals. Staff help children who have English as

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How effective is the nursery education?

an additional language or who have special educational needs to join in the full range of activities. Leadership and management are very good. The school benefits from the strong leadership of the manager/team leader. There are effective systems in place to monitor the quality of teaching. There is a very good staff team, and several members of staff are currently undergoing further training which should further enhance the teaching. The partnership with parents and carers is very good and contributes to children's progress towards the early learning goals. Parents are well informed about activities and they share their observations about the children with the staff. They regularly discuss their children's progress and receive written reports.

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What is being done well?

• Relationships between staff and the children and their parents are very good. These help children to develop their confidence and support all aspects of their learning. • The children are offered a wide range of resources and activities to promote and support their learning in all areas of the curriculum. • The children are well taught and this has a marked impact upon their learning. • The staff are well deployed and they interact well with each other and with the children. • The school is led and managed very well by the manager/team leader who is

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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 a good role model. There is effective monitoring and evaluation of the quality of teaching.

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What needs to be improved?

• more opportunities for children's imaginations to be fostered through free painting • more opportunities for children to develop mathematical ideas and solve practical problems other than with traditional mathematical resources.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The setting has made very good progress since the last inspection. There are regular opportunities for the children to use balancing and climbing apparatus and children have access to a range of large and small equipment to develop coordination with increasing skill. Opportunities are given for children to recognise and write their names with correct 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 The children work cooperatively and relate well to each other and to the staff. Their concentration is very good. They behave very well and understand the difference between right and wrong. They are able to share and to take turns. They are very independent and are able to make their own choices of activities and resources.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good The children talk freely on different topics and take turns in conversation. They listen well to each other and to the staff. The children are very interested in the letters and letters sounds of the alphabet and many of them can read their own names and other words. They learn and try out new vocabulary. They work hard on letter formation and many can write their own names and simple captions.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children have good mathematical resources. There are many opportunities for them to count. They are able to recognise and to use numerals. They are encouraged to find out about size and shape, and are able to make and follow patterns. Children have less time to explore mathematical concepts when using non-traditional mathematical resources.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good There are many opportunities for the children to investigate and find out about a wide variety of materials through their senses, especially during cooking sessions. They are able to contrast and talk about the similarities and differences of specific materials. They learn about and discuss their own environment and also find out about the continents of the world.

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good The children make good use of the wide range of small and large equipment that is available. They use the equipment both indoors and outdoors with confidence and competence. They show an awareness of the need for safety, both for themselves and for others, when using the equipment. They understand the need for hygiene.

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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 have many opportunities to use colouring pencils and felt pens. Although the programme for creative development is very good overall, they have less time to develop their imaginations in free painting. They are encouraged to use their senses for a variety of purposes. They are encouraged to sing and to listen to music.

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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 improving the following: • provide more opportunities for children's imaginations to be fostered through free painting • develop further opportunities for children to explore mathematical ideas and solve practical problems, other than with traditional mathematical resources.

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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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