Marlow Montessori School

Marlow Montessori School Frieth Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 2JQ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 November 2015 5 May 2010

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 Children enjoy extremely rich and stimulating learning experiences, which motivate them and contribute strongly to their excellent progress and readiness for school.  Staff set high expectations and are skilled at challenging children to try new things and take responsibility for their own learning. Assessment is sharply focused, accurate and used to excellent effect.  Trusting relationships with adults are formed as a result of the exceptionally warm, caring and safe atmosphere that staff provide. Children's behaviour is excellent and they learn to consider and respect others and their environment.  Children's understanding of healthy lifestyles is well supported. They cook regularly, enjoy drama and movement, and take trips into the community as part of learning about the wider world.  The staff team works together with a clear vision, high expectations and commitment to continuous improvement. Improvement plans are realistic and sharply focused; they

p.1

This provision is outstanding

are linked to close checks on the quality of teaching, and children's learning and progress.  The views of parents actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the provision for children.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen ways of informing parents about how they can complement children's learning at home, to use every opportunity to promote children's progress.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor areas.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection, and held a meeting with the owner.  The inspector looked at children's records, evidence of staff suitability and a range of other documentation, including policies and the procedures to safeguard children.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the owner.  The inspector gathered the views of parents, children and staff.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of their responsibility to protect children. They are clear on how to report any concerns. The owner sets rigorous targets for staff to improve their performance. The provision for staff training is excellent and used to improve children's learning experiences. Staff use information on children's progress and achievement extremely rigorously. They are quick to identify any areas where children are not doing as well and take swift action to address any learning needs. Proactive links with parents, families and others mean that support is matched precisely to children's differing needs. Staff provide slightly less opportunity for parents to become fully engaged in children's learning at home, to help promote children's progress even further.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The quality of teaching is exceptional. Staff actively play alongside groups of children to model ideas, engage children and move their learning forward extremely well. When children choose to work independently, or with friends, adults provide encouragement or pose skilful questions. They extend children's learning even further and get them thinking more deeply. The very strong focus on speaking and listening leads to rapid gains in children's early communication skills. For example, children understand that symbols carry meaning and quickly develop the skills of linking sounds and letters. They enjoy using these to recognise and write their own names. They are all confident and competent speakers who understand how to listen to each other. Children make outstanding progress in their early mathematical skills. They count and order numbers well in a wide range of activities. They enjoyed organising wooden rods and matching numbers on games.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The well-organised classroom and outdoor spaces are creatively resourced, to promote children's curiosity and imagination. Children are eager to learn. They rise to the challenges on offer, gain confidence and develop their independence rapidly, ready for their future learning. They listen very attentively to staff and to each other, and follow instructions carefully. They make decisions about their work and play, and persevere at activities until they are completed. They develop high levels of independence, wash up their plates after snack time and put away resources after they use them. Children learn to take small risks and work out how to keep themselves and others safe extremely well.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

The achievements of all children are outstanding. Regardless of their starting points, or any barriers to learning, each child makes excellent progress because their needs are quickly understood. Children enjoy plenty of activities that provide the right level of challenge to help them make the best possible progress.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 116753 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 825127 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 8 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 17 Name of provider Janice Christina Evans Date of previous inspection 5 May 2010 Telephone number 01628 477855

p.4

Setting details

Marlow Montessori School registered in 1993. It operates from Bovingdon Green Village Hall, on the outskirts of Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years old. It is open each weekday during school term times, from 9.15am until 3.45pm, apart from Friday afternoons. There are four staff working directly with the children, three of whom hold relevant qualifications in early years at level 6. The setting promotes a Montessori approach to education.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

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

p.5