Beechoak Farm Montessori Preschool

Beechoak Farm Montessori Preschool Church Road, High Beech, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4AJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 January 2016 23 March 2010

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 A rich learning environment creates a wide range of exciting opportunities for all children. Children have access to the outside area in all weathers which enhances children's development across all areas of learning. Children are enthusiastic learners who are keen to explore and investigate.  Children's personal, social and emotional development are well promoted through regular praise and encouragement. Children make strong bonds and attachments with staff and peers and demonstrate that they are happy and settled.  Staff work effectively as a team. They are well deployed, indoors and outside, ensuring children's safety and supporting them in their play and learning.  Staff establish strong and trusting partnerships with parents. They work closely with parents and other professionals to support children's individual care, development and learning needs.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, daily routines do not always support opportunities for younger children to lead their own play.  On occasion, the monitoring of some assessments does not fully reflect the range of groups of children attending the setting.

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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

 review the organisation of routines, such as group activities and snack time, so that younger children's opportunities for sustained play are further encouraged  enhance the already good monitoring of children's assessment to precisely track the progress of a range of different groups in order to ensure that interventions can be targeted more effectively.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-school's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The provider and staff have a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures and are aware of their responsibilities in this respect. Secure arrangements are in place for the recruitment of staff and all are vetted to ensure they are safe to care for children. The manager and staff team demonstrate a commitment to the continual development of the whole provision and continue to identify priorities for improvement. Staff are supported to attend relevant courses and gain additional qualifications to further promote effective outcomes for children. The manager monitors educational programmes effectively for individual children. However, she is only just starting to consider the varying learning styles of groups of children, for example, the progression of children who speak English as an additional language, and how this may have an impact on planning and securing precise

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children demonstrate a positive approach to learning, supported by the cheerful interactions of the staff team caring for them. Staff regularly observe children and effectively use these observations to plan individual next steps in their learning. Staff skilfully extend children's learning as they introduce simple mathematical concepts of weight and size. For example, while playing at the water tray, staff encourage children to predict which items might float or sink. This is one of the many ways staff enhance children's early mathematical skills. Outdoors, children clearly enjoy using a varied range of wheeled toys and play equipment that supports their development across all areas of learning. Consequently, all children are gaining skills that help prepare them for their next stage of learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children share warm relationships with the approachable and friendly staff. Staff support children's emerging understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle that involves physical exercise and a healthy diet. Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise during outdoor play. However, at times, the routines of the pre-school are not sufficiently flexible to give younger children time to develop their own ideas and become fully engaged in their play. Children learn about the needs and feelings of others through sharing, taking turns and helping others. Their behaviour is good, as the staff share consistent expectations and act as effective role models themselves. Complying with these expectations means children enjoy their pre-school experiences and have some emerging skills to underpin their eventual move to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress and are working comfortably within the range of development typical for their age. Staff promote children's independence and self-care skills well. For example, they are encouraged to feed and dress themselves and use the toilet with minimal support. These skills help to prepare children for the move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 402271 Local authority Essex Inspection number 847901 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 72 Number of children on roll 152 Name of provider Beechoak Farm Montessori Preschool Limited Date of previous inspection 23 March 2010 Telephone number 0208 502 0006

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Setting details

Beechoak Farm Montessori Preschool was registered in 1996. The pre-school employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one at level 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 5pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. The pre-school supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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