Little Steps Montessori Nursery School

Little Steps Montessori Nursery School The Ken Hogan Pavilion, Berrydown Sports Ground, London Road, Overton, BASINGSTOKE, Hampshire, RG25 3BT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 October 2015 Not applicable

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The manager and staff know and use appropriate policies, procedures and daily practices to deliver all the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage to extremely high standards.  Staff create vibrant and interesting learning environments indoors and out. Children have many opportunities to make choices and build their independence. As a result, children are highly absorbed in their activities and confidently lead their own play and learning.  Children make excellent progress in their learning and development due to the high standards set by the manager and the dedication of her inspiring staff. Teaching is superb as it is highly focused on gently nurturing children to high levels of achievement.  Parents explain how exceptionally well staff prepare their children for school and new challenges in the community. They explain how highly skilled the manager is in helping them secure accurate diagnosis and support for disabled children and those who have

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This provision is outstanding

special educational needs.  Staff show great respect to children of all ages and are diligent in attending to their needs quickly and efficiently. Children are kind to each other and listen attentively to each other's news and ideas for play.  Children benefit enormously from long periods playing in the fresh air. The nursery is surrounded by sports fields and natural habitats which children routinely investigate.

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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

 consider ways to enrich children's imaginative role play and story acting even further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed a wide range of activities across all areas of the nursery and talked with staff and children about what they were doing.  The inspector reviewed documents and procedures relating to safeguarding, staffing, supervision, risk assessment, equal opportunities, and health and safety, and checked a selection of other policies.  The inspector sampled a range of children's records, the nursery's systems for planning, evaluation, and exchanging information with parents and external professionals.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and reviewed written communication from parents.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The manager provides strong leadership to a team of highly experienced and capable staff. Children thrive in their care. All staff have an excellent understanding of how children learn and of their role in developing children's interests and self-confidence. Precise monitoring enables staff to quickly identify and address any gaps, delays, and particular strengths in children's development. Partnerships with parents and outside professionals are excellent. Staff make timely interventions for disabled children and those who have special educational needs, and increase levels of challenge for the most able children. Consequently, all children make exemplary progress in their learning. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are extremely attentive to all aspects of children's health, safety and welfare. They know how to keep children safe and manage any concerns they may have about their welfare.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Teaching is exceptional. Children are highly motivated to learn and master new skills through purposeful play and experimentation. Staff record children's progress diligently. They know how to enhance children's learning and skilfully extend their thinking. Children show superb levels of engagement in their learning and make excellent progress so they are exceptionally well prepared for school. Staff routinely evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching and resources. They recognise the value of enriching opportunities for role play further, for example, by adding more props to encourage children to act out stories. Regular staff meetings, supervisions and training enable the manager to continue to raise the quality of teaching to sustain the highest levels of achievement for all children.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children flourish. They quickly gain confidence in exploring the exciting play areas, fascinating toys and materials. Caring staff are always attentive to children's needs and interests. Staff work exceptionally well with parents to support children's emotional well- being and help children learn how to manage their emotions. Children's behaviour is impressive. They show exceptionally thoughtful and positive attitudes to others. For example, children notice when friends are shy and ask unprompted, 'Would you like a turn? You can share my fishing rod'. Staff teach children how to manage their own safety and to think critically about risks. For example, children know they must wear goggles and gloves to protect themselves from splinters when they work with wood. Children benefit greatly from excellent opportunities to be physically active outdoors.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make outstanding levels of progress given their starting points. They are self- motivated learners who are curious, willing to persist and keen to master new skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY458183 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 931990 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 29 Name of provider Brenda Anne Sampson Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07786294574

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Setting details

Little Steps Montessori Nursery School registered in 2013. The nursery operates from The Ken Hogan Pavilion in Overton, Hampshire. It is open from 8.30am to 4pm each weekday during term time and for a holiday club in the summer. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The nursery follows the Montessori philosophy approach. There are eight staff, six of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 2 to level 4.

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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

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Setting details

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