Little Fingers Montessori School

Little Fingers Montessori School St. Stephens School Rooms, Vansittart Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5EA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 May 2015 4 May 2010

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 Staff use a wide range of Montessori and mainstream early years teaching approaches to provide a good-quality curriculum in all areas of learning. Consequently, children make good progress in their development.  Staff provide an inclusive environment, where children of different ages build friendships and play well together. This promotes children's personal, social and emotional development.  Staff use a range of techniques to make learning about letters and numbers fun. As a result, children develop good mathematical and literacy skills ready for their next stage of learning and for school.  Staff develop strong attachments with children so that they settle well, and are confident to try new activities.  Management and staff work in partnership with parents and other professionals to ensure a consistent approach to children's learning and development and to support children's transitions to school.

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This provision is good

 The management team sets challenging targets to continuously develop the setting in order to achieve improved outcomes for all children who attend.  Management ensures that staff are continually improving their skills and professional development through reflective practice. Staff further benefit from accessing regular training opportunities to gain new ideas in order to improve outcomes for children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff miss opportunities to consistently promote children's self-care skills at times, by encouraging children to do things for themselves, particularly during snack time.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen opportunities for children to do things for themselves during everyday routines to fully develop their self-care skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed interactions between staff and children during activities both inside and outside.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled the setting's policies and procedures, self-evaluation form, and children's records.  The inspector met with the manager and registered person.  The inspector took into account the views of parents and spoke to children on the day of the inspection.

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who attend. This is good

Staff plan a wide range of activities to meet the individual needs of the children. They extend activities for children to continuously challenge and motivate them. Consequently, all children make good progress. Children sit and concentrate as they practise their hand- to-eye coordination skills, for example, when scooping soil into pots to replant their sunflowers. Staff talk to children all the time and extend their vocabulary, which promotes their communication and language development. They teach children how sunflowers grow so that children gain an understanding of the natural environment. Staff teach children about the days of the week, months and seasons, and further use visual aids to help reinforce children's learning about the world. Staff and children enthusiastically sing songs about fireworks and rockets. Staff teach them about the loud and quiet sounds they make, and children copy the actions, expressing themselves well through movement.

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good

Staff know children well and follow their interests. Therefore, all children settle well when they arrive and develop in confidence. Children behave well in the setting. This is because staff encourage children to share and take turns. They provide activities so that children learn to manage their own behaviour ready for school. Staff teach children about the benefits of healthy lifestyles. They discuss foods that are good for them during mealtimes to extend their understanding further. Staff provide children with daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They walk to the local school playground, where children have opportunities to play football, climb on rope ladders and learn how to swing on tyres. Staff allow children to take suitable risks so that they develop their confidence and physical skills. Children enjoy exploring and discovering insects using magnifying glasses, and staff enhance their social skills by encouraging them to share their discoveries with others.

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provision is good

Management and staff have a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. They implement a wide range of policies and procedures to effectively promote children's safety and well-being. Management and staff follow the guidance of their Local Safeguarding Children Board. They understand the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child or another member of staff. Management follows robust recruitment, induction and supervision procedures to promote the safety of children and ensure the ongoing suitability of all staff. Parents regularly review their children's development records and staff talk to parents daily about their children's achievements. As a result, parents are kept well informed to enable them to extend children's learning further at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 108404 Local authority Windsor & Maidenhead Inspection number 835807 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 21 Name of provider Little Fingers Ltd Date of previous inspection 4 May 2010 Telephone number 01628 778636 or 07778838099

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Setting details

Little Fingers Montessori School registered in 1996. It operates from St Stephen's School Rooms, in Windsor, Berkshire. The setting supports the Montessori method of teaching. The provider receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The setting operates 38 weeks of the year; sessions include mornings from 9.15am to 12.20pm or 1pm, with additional afternoon sessions until 2.50pm on a Monday and Tuesday. The provider employs five staff, all of whom hold early years qualifications. The registered person and the manager both have Early Years Professional Status, one member of staff has a qualification at level 6 and all other staff hold qualifications at level 3.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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