New Hickory Montessori

New Hickory Montessori Comptons, 25 Denmans Lane, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 2LA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 March 2016 26 January 2009

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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

 Staff form strong partnerships with parents and agencies that contribute significantly to children's learning. They work effectively together to identify and meet children's individual needs.  Staff create a welcoming, friendly and stimulating environment. Children form close relationships with adults, who help them feel safe, secure and ready to learn.  Children develop strong levels of independence. For example, they make choices from a wide range of imaginative and challenging resources and activities.  Staff observe and assess children's progress accurately. They interact well with children and extend their learning. Children make good progress.  The management team monitors and supports staff well. For example, they observe practice and review staff's teaching skills consistently.  The manager constantly monitors the progress that all children make in the nursery. She uses the information effectively to identify and address any weaknesses in planning

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This provision is good

and teaching, such as opportunities to engage boys in writing activities.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes staff do not organise sessions in the most effective way, for example, to enable children to develop and extend their play without interruption.  At times, children who learn better outdoors do not have sustained opportunities to play outside.

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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

 increase the use of the outdoor learning environment, particularly for those children who learn better outdoors  review the routines of the day and group activities to make the most of opportunities to promote children's learning and avoid interrupting them when they are engaged in activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities indoors and in the outdoor area.  The inspector held meetings with the management team.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to at the inspection.  The inspector sampled relevant documents, including children's learning records, planning records and the setting's self-evaluation and improvement plans.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The management team carries out robust recruitment and induction procedures that help ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Staff give high priority to maintaining a safe and secure environment for children. The management team makes sure that all staff have a good understanding of how to recognise and report child protection concerns. Staff and managers are all actively involved in sharing their ideas of how to continue to improve the nursery. Staff benefit from a wide variety of training opportunities that help improve the quality of teaching. For example, a recent science course has increased staff's skills in planning exciting activities that help strengthen children's understanding of the world.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff get to know children's interests and abilities well. They have a good understanding of how to build on children's skills. Staff give children the confidence to try new things and work things out for themselves. For example, with encouragement, very young children start to explore different materials that help promote their sensory and physical skills. Staff provide plenty of learning experiences that engage and motivate children. They strengthen children's communication skills, for example, when they talk to them and encourage them to share their ideas. Staff increase children's mathematical skills, for example, when they work together to build high towers with blocks.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff promote children's emotional well-being successfully. For example, they give good care and support to younger children transferring to the older group. These younger children enjoy the comfort and reassurance of familiar adults. Older children form strong friendships and play happily with others. Staff help children develop a good understanding of the need to share and take turns. Children learn to negotiate and work out disputes amicably with their friends. They develop a strong awareness of how to stay safe and manage risks, for example, when going on outings. Staff provide healthy food choices for children and teach them good personal hygiene practices.

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Outcomes for children are good

Staff promote children's independence and learning successfully. Children develop well in the skills they need to secure future learning. They become confident speakers with strong social skills. Children persevere at tasks and become absorbed in play with a purpose. Older children develop good early writing and mathematical skills. Children are confident learners who enjoy exploring and investigating independently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY310220 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 827168 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 67 Name of provider Carole Anne Benson Date of previous inspection 26 January 2009 Telephone number 01444 473311

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Setting details

New Hickory Montessori Nursery registered in 2005. It is part of the Tudor House group of nurseries. The nursery operates from Lindfield, West Sussex. It opens every weekday from 9am to 3pm, during term time only. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs seven staff. There are five staff, including the manager, who hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery follows the Montessori teaching method.

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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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