The Mulberry Bush Montessori Nursery Ltd

The Mulberry Bush Montessori Nursery Ltd 12 Melrose Road, West Mersea, COLCHESTER, CO5 8JB

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 July 2016 Not applicable

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

 Leadership is exemplary and worthy of disseminating. The principal of the nursery is highly dynamic and skilful. She provides exceptionally high-quality childcare through the meticulously precise management of her effective team.  Children are extremely motivated to learn in the vibrant and resourceful environment. They enthusiastically move between the exciting indoor and outdoor learning environments that capture and sustain children's interests.  Children's progress is expertly monitored by their dedicated key person. Children excel in their learning, making exemplary progress from their starting points.  Children form extremely close bonds with the practitioners in the nursery. They enter the nursery confidently and are greeted by warm and welcoming gestures from all of the practitioners. Children show great kindness towards each other. They form small friendship groups and are regularly heard asking other children to join them in a game

p.1

This provision is outstanding

or to produce a model together from the construction toys.  Partnerships with parents are exemplary. Parents speak extremely highly of the nursery principal and her team of expert practitioners. Parents whose children did not attend the nursery on the day of the inspection made a special trip to share their views with the inspector on the way in which the nursery has comprehensively supported their children's development.  All children are superbly supported in both their learning and development and their well-being needs. Practitioners work extremely well with other professionals to support all children, especially those who have special educational needs or disability.

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

 review the already thorough and effective monitoring of children's progress to evaluate how the data can be used to raise teaching and learning to an even higher level.

p.2

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 principal.  The inspector held a discussion with the principal. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of practitioners working in the nursery.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection and through written comments within children's development information.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Practitioners are extremely skilled at recognising the signs and symptoms of abuse. They follow the nursery's rigorous safeguarding procedures to ensure that every child's well-being is paramount. Leaders implement robust policies to ensure the safety of both children and practitioners. Highly effective supervision and coaching ensures that practitioners' professional development is expertly enhanced. The nursery principal acts as an exemplary role model for her team of well-qualified and dedicated childcare professionals. Effective monitoring of children's progress enables the principal to identify any gaps in children's learning and to seek appropriate interventions. She is currently reviewing how she uses this data to target children's learning to raise it to an even higher level.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Opportunities for children's learning are extensive. Children enthusiastically guide their own play and learning by freely accessing the innovative range of resources available to them. They explore whether a small selection of items will float or sink in their bowl of water. Once they establish the answer they place the item on the correct visual prompt of float or sink. Practitioners sit close by and ask children purposeful questions to extend their thinking. Children thoroughly enjoy expressing themselves in the role play and messy-play rooms. The resources to promote children's imaginative skills are exciting and versatile. Children determine how the role play room is used and which scenario they want to act out. Practitioners skilfully enhance children's communication and language skills, ensuring that all children are able to articulate their feelings and participate in both large- and small-group discussions.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are extremely comfortable in the nursery. Children's self-esteem and confidence are expertly promoted by practitioners who consistently offer children praise and encouragement. Children are highly respectful of each other and of the adults caring for them. For example, they know not to interrupt a conversation between other people; they say excuse me and wait until there is a gap in the discussion. Children are extremely knowledgeable about where food comes from. They grow and harvest a wide range of fruit and vegetables in their garden. Children are provided with extensive opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, they negotiate walking along wooden stepping stones in the garden and gallop around the horse trial circuit in their horse costume.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are extremely well prepared for their next stage of learning, including entering school. Many children are able to write their own names and some read simple sentences from reading books. All children develop excellent personal care skills from an early age. For example, they proficiently prepare themselves for playing outdoors by choosing appropriate clothing.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY479688 Local authority Essex Inspection number 984183 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person The Mulberry Bush Montessori Nursery Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01206 383898

p.4

reference number

The Mulberry Bush Montessori Nursery Ltd was registered in 2014. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the principal and one deputy with early years professional status and one practitioner with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 45 weeks per year. The setting operates a holiday club when requested by parents. Sessions are from 9am until 3.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery provides care for children who have special educational needs or disability.

p.4

reference number

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

reference number

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

reference number

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

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

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

p.5