Townsend Montessori @ Maidstone

Townsend Montessori @ Maidstone The former Archbishop Courtenay School, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6YH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 May 2016 Not applicable

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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

 All children, including those with special educational needs, make good progress. Staff quickly identify gaps in their learning and provide effective support to help them catch up. Children learn a good range of skills to prepare them for the next stage in their learning.  The manager and staff are dedicated to improve the quality of practice for the children. They review and evaluate practice together. For example, they hold planning meetings and have room action plans in place.  Children develop good physical skills and physical well-being. There is good range of opportunities for children to exercise, and rest and recuperate. For example, they have tranquil spaces to reflect and opportunities to run, climb and balance.  Staff support the children and know their needs and personalities well. The children have high levels of emotional well-being and self-esteem.  Children develop good mathematical skills and understanding. They use mathematical

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This provision is good

language, such as size and volume, freely in their play.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always give children sufficient time to think problems through for themselves and respond appropriately to questions.  Sometimes, staff do not always immediately engage children in activities that they choose to join with.

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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

 strengthen the opportunities for children to think problems through for themselves and respond to questions  develop further staff's engagement with children to support them to become quickly involved and engaged in the planned activities that they choose to take part in.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the staff's interaction with children.  The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor environments.  The inspector looked at the written documentation, including a sample of the policies and procedures, risk assessments and staff training records.  The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff, and took their views into consideration.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The managers effectively motivate and support staff to extend their skills, knowledge and practice. For example, they provide staff with good training opportunities to meet children's specific needs. Staff have good links with other professionals, which helps to provide consistency in children's learning and development. For example, they discuss children's needs and share next steps. The managers regularly monitor the consistency of the quality of teaching. They carry out regular staff meetings and observe their practice. Accurate tracking and regular monitoring of children's individual and group progress helps to identify any gaps in development. Staff provide individual support to help them catch up. Staff have a good knowledge of how to keep children safe and understand the procedures to follow to protect children's safety and welfare. Safeguarding is effective.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children well to prepare for their move to school and communicate effectively with the teachers. For example, they share progress reports and carry out visits to the schools. Parents have an active role in their children's learning and development. Staff keep them informed and included. For example, they provide ideas and activity cards for parents to support children's learning further at home. Staff build upon children's interests well. For example, children enjoy being creative and make good use of unusual materials to paint, such as blossom branches from the garden.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff demonstrate good social skills consistently. Children are polite and behave well. They show care and concern for others and demonstrate a great sense of empathy. For example, they comfort and help other children when they recognise they are upset or unable to complete a task. Children learn about the world around them. For example, they observe their tadpoles and are excited to see them grow. Children have good opportunities to learn additional skills. For example, a dance teacher visits weekly to teach them dance and movement. Staff promote children's understanding of differences and similarities in society well. For example, children explore objects from around the world.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good independence and take part in daily routines. For example, they manage their own care needs. Children have good opportunities to develop their literacy skills and understanding of early writing. For example, they recognise letters and show interest in a variety of books. Children enjoy exploring and investigating. They carry out a volcano experiment, exploring ways in which they can make it 'erupt'. This helps children to develop the range of skills to support their future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY477930 Local authority Kent Inspection number 985765 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 92 Number of children on roll 210 Name of provider Townsend Montessori Nurseries Ltd Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01843 852575

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Setting details

Townsend Montessori @ Maidstone registered in 2014. It is one of eight nurseries owned by Townsend Montessori Nurseries Ltd. The nursery operates from a former school building in the centre of Maidstone, Kent. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year and closes during the Christmas holidays. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 30 staff, 25 of whom hold recognised early years qualifications at level 2 and above. Of these, 14 staff hold early years qualifications between level 3 and level 6, and one member of staff has Early Years Professional Status. Two members of staff are qualified Montessori teachers.

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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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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