Blackheath Montessori Centre

Blackheath Montessori Centre Independents Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 9LF

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 June 2016 11 June 2015

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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

 Leaders and managers have successfully led extensive improvements in the environment and teaching since the last inspection. Teaching, care and the outcomes for children are outstanding.  Children are excited to come to the nursery. They do not waste a minute of their day as they choose from the exceptionally purposeful activities. They make excellent progress in their learning and development.  Outings, events, dance, music and French lessons enrich children's learning superbly. Children, including two-year-olds, show an exceptional range of knowledge and skills, for example, when retelling the story of their farm visit in pictures, models and dance.  Staff nurture highly positive relationships with parents and children to give each child tailored support. The nursery provides exceptional help, in partnership with outside agencies and from its own resources, for each child to catch up and keep up.

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 Children are prepared fully to take on the challenges of the next steps in their learning when moving on to school. Older children are highly confident talkers. This includes children who started at the nursery at a very early stage of speaking English.  Leaders and managers foster a culture of vigilance for safeguarding. Children's welfare and emotional well-being are at the forefront of the staff's practice. They make sure children are safe and thriving.  Parents and children provide a wealth of ideas and practical support to drive further development in the nursery. Their involvement in the refurbishment of the outdoor area helped the nursery complete the wonderful improvements very rapidly.

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

 make the best use of the highly positive partnerships with schools and others to sustain excellent outcomes for children.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors and outside. She spoke with staff and children at suitable times throughout the day.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with a senior member of staff.  The inspector held discussions with representatives of the board of trustees and the manager.  The inspector looked at a sample of policies, procedures and documents relating to the management of the nursery, including those relating to checks on the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke with parents and took account of their views and written feedback to the nursery.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Leaders and managers successfully introduced a rigorous system to assess and track children's progress. Highly experienced staff identify children's needs precisely and plan meticulously. Partnerships with parents, schools and outside agencies are well-established and highly positive. Ambitious plans are in hand to extend provision to sustain the highest levels of children’s achievements. For example, plans are underway to make the basement fully accessible to all children. The nursery ensures well-coordinated, effective early help plans are promptly delivered for disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs or disability. Gaps in children's learning close rapidly. Safeguarding is effective. Checks on the suitability of staff, training and ongoing supervision ensure staff are suitable and highly skilled to support vulnerable children.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff weave together stories, conversation, games and creative activities with planned dance and language lessons to extend each child's learning. Staff pay individual attention to ensure children very quickly gain secure skills in recognising and using letter sounds, colours, shapes and numbers. Older children are inspired to try out their emerging writing skills. They draw, paint and write the words they know to recall trips to a farm or the seaside. Reading favourite books with staff, older children use their extensive vocabulary as they come up with a string of possible alternative words for 'colossal'. Children are absorbed in exploring shapes as they dig into exciting pirate treasure 'mud' and as they pack miniature holiday suitcases. Parents are keenly involved in extending children's learning at home and assessing their child’s progress, especially at two years of age.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children maintain the highest levels of enthusiasm, curiosity and involvement indoors and in the newly refurbished outdoor area. Children show exceptionally courteous behaviour. They understand communities beyond their own because of the diverse experiences staff provide. They listen attentively to each other's ideas and complete tasks cooperatively. For example, a group work out the best way to fill buckets with wet sand quickly from the sandpit. Children develop a deep understanding of how to stay healthy because staff teach them about healthy eating and exercise. Children show their detailed knowledge about healthy portions, saying for example, 'not too much ice cream - it’s sugary'. Children are supported exceptionally well to look forward to moving on to school. Their achievements are celebrated in insightful transition reports.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children rise to the nursery's high expectations. They make excellent progress from their varied starting points. Two-year-olds, especially those at a very early stage of speaking English, make very rapid progress with highly individual attention from staff. Older children have an excellent range of knowledge and skills. Those who are interested in writing form letters recognisably. They delight in reading and spelling out words they know from stories, such as 'gorilla' and ‘Gruffalo’. Children count well beyond 20 and use numbers and the terms square and cube accurately as they play.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 129010 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 1045000 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 59 Name of provider Blackheath Montessori Centre Limited Date of previous inspection 11 June 2015 Telephone number 020 8852 6765

p.4

Setting details

Blackheath Montessori Centre was registered in 1993. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, for 48 weeks per year. The setting provides for disabled children and those with special educational needs. It provides for children who speak English as an additional language. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. Twelve members of staff, work with the children, all of whom hold appropriate qualifications. The nursery follows the Montessori approach.

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