Munchkins Nursery and Pre School

Wivenhoe Montessori Childrens House The Pavillion, King George V Playing Fields, Wivenhoe, Colchester, Essex, CO7 9AF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 November 2015 17 January 2011

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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

 All staff consistently demonstrate the very high expectations they have of the children and encourage their independence at every opportunity. Children are highly driven, show a wonderful 'can do' attitude and are extremely confident in their approach to new things.  Highly effective monitoring of children's progress means staff are able to very quickly identify any emerging gaps in learning and swiftly implement programmes of support. Monitoring extends to different groups of children as well as the educational programme. This provides a highly detailed account of how and where children are making progress.  Staff highly value each child as an individual. They are entirely respectful of children's feelings and opinions and place high priority on ensuring children feel listened to and appreciated. Children demonstrate they feel secure and have high levels of confidence and self-worth.  Staff help children gain a deep understanding of the wider world and people, families

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This provision is outstanding

and communities beyond their own. They engage in a wide range of activities and experiences that help children to respect and celebrate differences and diversity.  Partnerships with parents are extremely effective. Information sharing and high involvement from parents help to ensure that parents are entirely involved in their children's learning within the nursery and at home. Parents speak very highly of the nursery and the quality of practice.

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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

 enhance the already excellent opportunities children have to use their imaginative skills, particularly during outdoor play.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this had on children's learning both inside and outside.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation, evidence of the suitability of staff and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and staff are extremely alert to any changes in children's welfare. They have an excellent understanding of safeguarding issues, including the procedures to follow in reporting concerns. The rigorous recruitment process fully promotes the protection of children. The manager is knowledgeable, highly skilled and dedicated to her role. She demonstrates very high expectations of the staff team and provides highly effective systems of support and performance management. There is a strong culture of reflective practice and the staff team works collaboratively to bring about improvements to the nursery and outcomes for children. Staff work very closely with other professionals involved in the care and development of the children. This extremely effective, collaborative approach means children are exceptionally well supported and make excellent progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff are well qualified and demonstrate consistently strong teaching skills. They expertly guide and support children's learning as they are fully aware of the children's needs. Staff actively promote children's independent learning. The environment is extremely well- presented and is equipped with a rich range of interesting and inviting resources. Staff are highly skilled at using children's interests to promote learning across other areas. For example, children enjoy talking about butterflies and where they come from. Staff encourage children to explore their ideas further as they independently access other resources and use their communication and mathematical skills to describe other types of insects. Children use excellent hand-to-eye coordination and develop their physical skills as they pour, sort items and use a range of tools. Children use wonderful imaginative skills in the well-equipped role-play area. However, role-play opportunities are not always

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

provided to such a high standard outdoors.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Highly personalised settling-in procedures and excellent information sharing help to ensure children settle very quickly. The well-established key-person system ensures children's needs are well known and met at all times. Staff act as excellent role models and, as a result, children demonstrate exemplary behaviour. They relish the abundance of praise they receive and show exceptional levels of self-worth. Children gain an in-depth understanding of safety and managing risks. They participate in safety checks around the nursery and talk about ways to make the environment safe. Visits from local nurses provide children with real-life opportunities to learn about those who help them lead healthy lifestyles.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make excellent progress from their starting points and this continues throughout their learning. Expert teaching and dedicated support promotes children's learning extremely well across all areas. Staff place a high emphasis on children's personal development to ensure they are exceptionally well prepared and acquire the skills they need for future learning and for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY222657 Local authority Essex Inspection number 848220 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 32 Name of provider First Steps Montessori Ltd Date of previous inspection 17 January 2011 Telephone number 01206 827126

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Setting details

Wivenhoe Montessori Childrens House registered in 1997. It is open from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions run from 9am to 12 noon each day, with an optional lunch club from 12 noon to 12.45pm. Afternoon sessions are available Monday to Thursday from 12 noon to 3.30pm. The nursery receives funding for two-, three- and four- year-old children. In total, 9 staff work with the children, 6 of whom hold relevant early years qualifications. The manager is qualified to level 6. The nursery works in accordance with Montessori principles which are the foundation for this group's philosophy.

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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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