Harlequin Montessori Nursery

Harlequin Montessori Nursery School Road, Billericay, Essex, CM12 9LH

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 December 2015 17 February 2011

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 The manager and staff have a secure understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Self-evaluation has been used to maintain good standards throughout the nursery.  Staff are deployed effectively. They skilfully involve themselves in children's play to encourage and promote their learning and development.  Children enjoy close relationships with staff who help them to feel settled and secure. Staff talk to children in a calm and respectful manner. This helps children to understand how to manage their own behaviour and to make friends.  Staff encourage all children to develop key skills for increasing independence. Children become self-motivated learners. They select appropriate activities for their learning needs and quickly gain the skills necessary for starting school.  Comprehensive recruitment procedures help to ensure all adults who have contact with children are suitable. Staff understand how to safeguard children this helps them to

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Group activities are not always organised well enough to help children who speak English as an additional language to participate fully.  Staff performance management is not focused sharply enough on improving the quality of teaching to the highest level.

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

 review how group activities are organised and support children who speak English as an additional language to participate more fully  strengthen the performance management arrangements for staff and focus specifically on enhancing the quality of teaching.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held discussions with the nursery manager about the performance of the nursery.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager has a clear overview of the nursery. Thorough record keeping helps to promote all children's welfare and safety. There is a clear motivation to develop opportunities that enhance children's learning and development. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and implement appropriate procedures to help safeguard children and promote their welfare effectively. Staff continually refresh safeguarding training that supports their practice. Most staff working with children hold appropriate childcare qualifications. They have the skills and understanding to fulfil their roles. Staff receive one-to-one supervision that generally identifies some areas where their performance can be developed. The manager is proactive in establishing links with local schools. She ensures that information is shared in a timely way so that children benefit from consistency in care and education.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children engage in a wide range of thoughtful and precisely prepared experiences that they can access independently. Their continued development is helped because educational programmes have depth and breadth across all aspects of learning. The overall quality of teaching is good. Staff successfully develop children's interest in learning new information. Children enjoy recalling their past experiences while discussing information from non-fiction books. Children's physical development is promoted well. They are provided with many opportunities to manipulate and investigate a range of equipment and resources. Children's progress is monitored and each child's key person identifies their next steps for learning. Staff gather information from parents about children's starting points when they begin. They use this to build on their own observations and to continue to exchange information that strengthens the assessment

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Opportunities to develop children's independence are promoted throughout the nursery. All children appear happy and confident. They move around the range of activities provided, showing interest and curiosity. Partnerships with parents are strong. Regular discussions and daily diaries are used to exchange important information. Children's good health is promoted. They learn to adopt self-care routines, such as washing their hands before eating. Children benefit from playing in the fresh air and enjoy trips in the local community. Children's emotional well-being is assured. Staff use innovative ways to encourage children to discuss their feelings and to speak positively to each other.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children, including those who receive early education funding, make at least good progress from their starting points. The nursery provides play-based experiences that foster children's interest in learning new skills in preparation for school. Children who speak English as an additional language settle quickly and gain confidence to play with others.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 402203 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1021804 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 33 Name of provider Ann Margaret Arber Date of previous inspection 17 February 2011 Telephone number 01277 633223

p.4

Setting details

Harlequin Montessori Nursery opened in 1992. It is privately owned and operates from a building in the grounds of the Billericay School, in Billericay, Essex. The nursery serves the local community and the surrounding towns and villages. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above and four at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 7.30am until 4.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. They support children who speak English as an additional language and disabled children and those with special educational needs.

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