Holly Tree Montessori Nursery

INSPECTION DETAILS

Inspection Date 18/10/2004 Inspector Name Christine Myerscough

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SETTING DETAILS

Day Care Type Full Day Care Setting Name Holly Grange Montessori Nursery Limited Setting Address 108 Edgeley Road Edgeley Stockport Cheshire SK3 0TT

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REGISTERED PROVIDER DETAILS

Name The partnership of Holly Grange Montessori Nursery Limited

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

Name Holly Grange Montessori Nursery Limited Address Holly Grange Montessori Nursery Limited 108 Edgeley Road Stockport Cheshire SK3 0TT

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ORGANISATION DETAILS

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and 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 of the quality and standard of day care in accordance with the National Standards for Under Eights Day Care and Childminding; and 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

Holly Grange Montessori Nursery opened in 1999. The nursery operates from 5 rooms in a converted detached house in the Edgeley area of Stockport. Children have access to a fully enclosed outdoor play area. The nursery serves children from a wide area. There are currently 52 children from 8 months to 4 years on roll. This includes 12 funded 3-year-olds and 4 funded 4-year-olds. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery opens 5 days a week all year round, except for a week during the Christmas period, the last week of August and all bank holidays. Sessions are from 8.00 until 18.00. There are 8 staff who work directly with the children and a manager who acts in a supernumerary capacity. All staff are qualified to a minimum of NVQ Level 3 in Child Care or equivalent. The principles of the nursery are based on the philosophies of Dr. Maria Montessori. Information about the philosophy and curriculum is provided for parents.

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How good is the Day Care?

Holly Grange Montessori Nursery provides good quality care for children. Clear leadership and good communication across the nursery contributes to a harmonious working environment so children feel secure. Children have access to a broad range of high quality toys and equipment to meet their differing needs. Clear policies and procedures form an effective operational plan to ensure the smooth running of the nursery, and well-organised records are kept and stored securely to maintain confidentiality. Staff take reasonable steps to ensure the children are kept free from harm and there are a number of safety measures in place. Most aspects relating to safety are

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How good is the Day Care?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 satisfactory. Premises are secure and there are effective procedures for the safe arrival and collection of children. Staff implement good hygiene practices and actively encourage children to learn about personal hygiene through daily routines to promote their good health. Children enjoy a variety of nutritious meals with fresh produce on offer daily to promote their healthy growth and development. There are clear child protection procedures in place which are understood by staff and shared with parents. The nursery provides children with a wealth of valuable learning experiences with lots of choice for them to develop their play, in a well-organised and caring environment. Babies are well cared for and provided with interesting sensory

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How good is the Day Care?

activities, although outdoor experiences are not sufficiently planned for. Children are valued by staff who are pro-active in ensuring appropriate action is taken to meet their individual needs. Staff encourage good attitudes and behaviour and act as excellent role models. Their calm and skilful interactions help children develop a positive self-esteem. Staff work in partnership with parents and follow their wishes regarding the care of their children. Parents speak highly of staff and value the way in which information is shared.

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What is being done well?

• The nursery is very well-organised and managed. There are effective vetting and induction procedures in place, and comprehensive policies and procedures are put into practice to ensure a collaborative approach. A well deployed, fully qualified, caring staff team ensure good standards of care across the nursery. • Children's care, learning and play are supported well by staff. They give children time and space, allowing them to play independently, and are responsive when they request support and encouragement. The purposeful, secure and happy environment enables children to learn effectively and develop their curiosity and enquiring minds. • Children choose from an excellent range of natural materials and high quality equipment. Resources are organised so they are easily accessible so children can make their own decisions about their play. • Children's dietary needs are well catered for. Meals are prepared and cooked

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What is being done well?

on the premises and staff ensure children's individual dietary requirements are respected. A relaxed and social atmosphere at mealtimes is created so children can enjoy their meals at their own pace. Children take pride in setting the table and serving themselves their meals, promoting their independence skills. • Staff give children lots of praise and encouragement to boost their

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What is being done well?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 self-confidence. They place emphasis on children being kind and respectful towards one another by giving clear messages about the manner in which they should behave. Children respond well and follow staff's clear guidance.

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What needs to be improved?

• the planning of outdoor experiences for the babies • the frequency of risk assessments on the premises.

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CONDITIONS OF REGISTRATION

All registered persons must comply with all conditions of registration included on his/her certificate of registration. As a result of this inspection conditions of registration have been imposed / varied / removed and a new certificate of registration will be issued.

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by the time of the next inspection

Std Recommendation 3 Plan and provide more outdoor experiences for babies. 6 Review procedures for conducting risk assessments on the premises.

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by the time of the next inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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How effective is the nursery education?

Holly Grange Montessori Nursery provides high quality nursery education overall which enables children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals in all six areas of learning. The quality of teaching is very good. Staff know the children very well through working closely with them and carrying out regular observations and assessments of their learning. They use these observations in conjunction with their secure knowledge and understanding of the stepping stones to plan a varied and stimulating programme of activities to promote children's learning, although outdoor play experiences do not have clear learning intentions. Good individual support balanced with well-judged interventions, and the way the environment is organised to support independent access to resources, enables children to learn at their own pace and strongly impacts on their progress towards the early learning goals. Staff

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How effective is the nursery education?

consistently manage children's behaviour through positive praise and encouragement, giving clear explanations and good support. As a result, children are well behaved. The leadership and management is very good. The manager is a positive role model and provides a good level of support. Staff work well as a team and are enthusiastic and committed to the continuous improvement of the nursery. Systems are in place to support training and development to enable staff to fulfil their roles and responsibilities successfully. There is not yet a formalised system to monitor and evaluate the nursery education. The partnership with parents is very good. Parents are warmly welcomed and their views are valued and actively sought and acted upon. Staff promote parental involvement in children's learning and parents are kept well informed about their children's progress via several effective sources.

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What is being done well?

• Effective use of accommodation and resources fosters children's independence and initiative and strongly contributes to their high concentration levels. Children choose independently from an extensive range of equipment and materials and re-visit activities often to consolidate their learning and extend their own ideas. They benefit from good one-to-one support from staff to encourage their overall learning and self-confidence. • Strong emphasis is placed upon children learning initial letter sounds in many different ways. Children are learning to recognise letters when identifying objects which begin with a letter of the alphabet. Fun activities, such as, listening at group time for their initial in their first name and I spy games contributes to children's enthusiasm and very good progress in this area.

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What is being done well?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 • Children are confident and very able in using a range of tools to support their play and learning. Staff give children time to practise and repeat activities, and there are good opportunities to develop their coordination skills in everyday routine tasks, such as, using a dust pan and brush to sweep up. • Partnership with parents is a strength of the nursery. Through written reports, informal feedback, parents evenings and good information about curriculum topics, parents are kept abreast of their child's day and progress. Children have a record of achievement book which is well presented with photographs of them at play, their experiences in nursery and beautiful examples of their work.

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What needs to be improved?

• the planning for outdoor play • the monitoring and evaluation of the nursery education.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Very good progress has been made since the last inspection. The staff have improved opportunities for children to take part in role play activities and learn about everyday technology which were raised as issues in the previous inspection report. Staff give children space and time to enable them to develop their imaginations. Children confidently initiate their own role play and have well developed imaginations. They play co-operatively together, eagerly take on the roles of mummy and sister as they care for their baby, and introduce storylines into their play. Children thoroughly enjoy bringing and sharing their favourite dolls and teddies form home so they too can enjoy the nursery experience and be part of their role play scenarios! Additional equipment is now available so children can use technological resources to support their learning. Children are becoming confident in using programmable equipment as they print off their own work from the computer, take photographs

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What has improved since the last inspection?

using disposable cameras and access headphones independently to listen to music and stories.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children are sociable, relate well to peers and form good relationships with staff. They are purposefully engaged and show high levels of concentration and perseverance in activities of their choosing. Children are encouraged to operate independently, and are able to select resources for themselves, work on their own and take care of their personal needs successfully. Children show concern for others as they hold open the door for friends, and confidently stand up for their own rights.

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COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Judgement: Very Good Circle time is effective in promoting children's listening and speaking skills. Children listen attentively to one another's news and confidently ask many questions to gain knowledge as they discuss why hedgehogs hibernate. Children freely select books and retell their favourite stories quietly to themselves for pleasure. They successfully link many sounds to letters and request such activities often. They have very good pencil control as they copy and produce recognisable letters.

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MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children represent numbers using their fingers, count conkers successfully and recognise many numbers. During song of the week, they are learning to calculate and solve simple number problems. They make good use of the high quality mathematical resources, learning about space and shape as they construct models using blocks, and exploring weight and capacity as they fill different size containers with semolina. Children enjoy recreating patterns in activities such as threading beads and collage.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Judgement: Very Good Children are encouraged to explore, investigate and discover for themselves in many tactile and sensory activities. They examine conkers, leaves, and show a sense of wonder as they explore what is inside an acorn. Children enjoy looking and commenting on photographs of themselves in their record of achievement, helping them to differentiate between past and present events. They are developing a good awareness of other cultures and the wider world through stories and celebrating many festivals.

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KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children's hand-to-eye coordination is nurtured through very good use of tools and materials. They pat and squeeze play dough and adeptly use glue spreaders, paint brushes and hole punchers. Children show enjoyment for physical activities as they move their bodies in different directions to chase friends outside, and jump confidently, off equipment. They negotiate space successfully around the nursery and daily routines are promoting their understanding of good hygiene practices.

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CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Judgement: Very Good Children have good opportunities to explore colour, texture and shapes as they create beautiful hedgehogs using clay and twigs, and become excited mixing paints to create their collage. They confidently draw using pencil crayons and produce detailed drawings of family members. Children explore musical sounds in music sessions. They sing a range of songs, sometimes spontaneously as they play, and listen to different musical styles including classical and songs from other cultures.

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

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and 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: • develop the planning for outdoor play to include clear intentions for children's learning • introduce a rigorous system to monitor and evaluate the nursery education. 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 Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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STANDARD 1 - SUITABLE PERSON

Adults providing day care, looking after children or having unsupervised access to them are suitable to do so.

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STANDARD 2 - ORGANISATION

The registered person meets required adult: child ratios, ensures that training and qualifications requirements are met and organises space and resources to meet the children's needs effectively.

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STANDARD 3 - CARE, LEARNING AND PLAY

The registered person meets children's individual needs and promotes their welfare. They plan and provide activities and play opportunities to develop children's emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities.

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STANDARD 4 - PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The premises are safe, secure and suitable for their purpose. They provide adequate space in an appropriate location, are welcoming to children and offer access to the necessary facilities for a range of activities which promote their development.

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STANDARD 5 - EQUIPMENT

Furniture, equipment and toys are provided which are appropriate for their purpose and help to create an accessible and stimulating environment. They are of suitable design and condition, well maintained and conform to safety standards.

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STANDARD 6 - SAFETY

The registered person takes positive steps to promote safety within the setting and on outings and ensures proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents.

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STANDARD 7 - HEALTH

The registered person promotes the good health of children and takes positive steps to prevent the spread of infection and appropriate measures when they are ill.

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STANDARD 8 - FOOD AND DRINK

Children are provided with regular drinks and food in adequate quantities for their needs. Food and drink is properly prepared, nutritious and complies with dietary and religious requirements.

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STANDARD 9 - EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The registered person and staff actively promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for all children.

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NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)

The registered person is aware that some children may have special needs and is

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NEEDS AND DISABILITIES)

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 proactive in ensuring that appropriate action can be taken when such a child is identified or admitted to the provision. Steps are taken to promote the welfare and development of the child within the setting in partnership with the parents and other relevant parties.

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STANDARD 11 - BEHAVIOUR

Adults caring for children in the provision are able to manage a wide range of children's behaviour in a way which promotes their welfare and development.

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STANDARD 12 - WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS AND CARERS

The registered person and staff work in partnership with parents and to meet the needs of the children, both individually and as a group. Information is shared.

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STANDARD 13 - CHILD PROTECTION

The registered person complies with local child protection procedures approved by the Area Child Protection Committee and ensures that all adults working and looking after children in the provision are able to put the procedures into practice.

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STANDARD 14 - DOCUMENTATION

Records, policies and procedures which are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision, or to promote the welfare, care and learning of children are maintained. Records about individual children are shared with the child's parent.

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STANDARD 14 - DOCUMENTATION

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000; and Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

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