Elkington Road Montessori School

Elkington Road Montessori School Watts Lodge, Elkington Road, Welford, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN6 6HD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 February 2016 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 quality of teaching is exceptional. Staff have an excellent knowledge and understanding of how children learn and develop. They use this knowledge alongside the Montessori approach to learning to provide an excellent variety of activities and experiences, encouraging children's natural curiosity to learn. As a result, children flourish.  A highly effective key-person system supports children extremely well. This, along with the first-class communication with parents, helps them to feel secure. Children are highly motivated to learn.  Children's self-esteem and confidence flourishes in this exceptional environment. Staff bestow praise and encouragement on all of the children. They in turn are kind and courteous towards each other. Children's behaviour is superb.  Leadership and management are inspirational. Meticulous self-evaluation routines are established. The comments and views of the parents and children are highly valued.

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This provision is outstanding

These, alongside the views of the staff team, are used to effectively enhance all aspects of the provision.  Staff are vigilant at all times to the safety and well-being of the children. Their knowledge and understanding of how to safeguard children from abuse and neglect is superb. All potential risks indoors and outside are assessed and appropriate action taken to minimise them.  Children build exceptional skills in readiness for their move on to school. They are excellent communicators and are eager to share their experiences with staff and their friends. Children demonstrate great independence in everyday tasks.

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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

 refine further the excellent processes for the monitoring and evaluation of staff practice to continually enhance this already exceptional provision.

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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 observed an activity and discussed teaching methods with the provider.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the settings self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Leadership and management within the nursery are inspirational. The manager and staff continually strive for excellence. Self-evaluation is used effectively to continually improve and enhance all aspects of the provision. Parents speak highly of the amazing care their children receive. They feel the communication between themselves and staff is superb and praise the staff for the exceptional learning opportunities they bestow upon their children. Robust recruitment and induction procedures ensure adults working with the children are safe and suitable. Staff are highly motivated to learn and embrace all opportunities to continue their own professional development for the benefit of the provision. Supervision and annual appraisals further complements staff's professional development. Through this, the manager and staff have identified the value of implementing regular observations of their practice to support their skills further. The arrangements for safeguarding are

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

effective. Staff are secure in their understanding of child protection procedures to ensure children remain safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Children flourish as they excitedly engage in a superb variety of activities that stimulate, motivate and capture their interest. Staff place great importance on listening to what children say. Their skilful use of questioning supports children's language and communication skills excellently. Children demonstrate a love of nature and show a great interest in three owls that live close to their school. Staff encourage them to recognise and identify the type of owl from pictures and provide activities to promote their interest. Amongst other things, they listen intently as they hear the story of three baby owls who become anxious when their mummy flies away to find them food. They show empathy for the owls but understand that their mummy loves them and will be home once she has found food. Children talk about the way the owls move. They reflect the grace and elegance of the owls as they dance around the room while listening to music. Another

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

example is when children delight in writing their own pictorial stories. They use their imaginations well as they create adventures for themselves and teddy bears. Staff encourage them further through the questions they pose.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children thrive in this inspirational environment. Exceptional relationships between staff and children develop from the onset of their placement and their knowledge of the children is superb. They use this to provide a service where each child flourishes and they become confident, independent learners. Children's self-help skills are nurtured excellently. They make informed choices with regard to their play and show great respect for the resources they use. Behaviour is excellent. Children use their manners at all times. They use their language excellently to share their ideas and experiences and to ensure they are able to follow their interests.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are making superb progress given their starting points. They are gaining and developing effective skills to support their learning in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY490955 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 1022533 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 23 Name of provider Elise Paybody Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07977479470

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Setting details

Elkington Road Montessori School was registered again in 2015. The school employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. The school opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 12.30pm. The school provides funded early education for three-year-old children. It supports disabled children and those with special educational needs.

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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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