College Fields Montessori Nursery

College Fields Montessori Nursery College Fields, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1UA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 September 2016 15 July 2013

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 Children are highly independent. There are excellent relationships between children and staff, providing an exceptionally caring and nurturing environment. Staff know the children very well. Children have extremely high self-esteem and confidence.  Staff work well with parents. They share the children's progress daily and through regular meetings. Weekly newsletters inform parents about the planned activities, helping them to support their children's learning at home.  All children make good progress and gain the skills they need for the next stage of their education. Staff are well trained and knowledgeable about child development. For example, they skilfully question children to check their understanding and teach them new concepts and knowledge. Children have many opportunities to extend their knowledge of the world around them and of other cultures.  The management team supports staff well and continually evaluates practice to make

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This provision is good

targeted changes that benefit children. The team monitors children's progress closely to identify and close gaps promptly. There are good partnerships with other settings that children attend, so there is a common understanding of children's achievements.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 There are few opportunities for children to build on what they learn indoors when they go outdoors to play.

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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

 provide more opportunities for children to build on what they have learnt indoors when they play outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector watched the children learning and staff teaching, through their play.  The inspector spoke to parents, children and staff.  The inspector had discussions with the manager and registered person, and completed a joint observation with the manager of a planned activity.  The inspector reviewed policies, procedures, risk assessments and other relevant documents.  The inspector reviewed the premises and resources.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team uses self-evaluation well to help it identify and make changes; for example, staff work well to support children's progress during planned activities. The management team supports staff effectively to attend training and develop their skills. For example, training in supporting children's language development has led to staff being more aware of potential delays and seeking support from other agencies more promptly. Safeguarding is effective. The management team and staff are clear about child protection issues and their role and responsibility in working with others to keep children safe from harm.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The key-person system and staff's good knowledge of individual children allow them to use children's interests, such as dinosaurs, well to plan a wide range of themed activities. Staff extend children's development well, for example, through stories and books. They have clear expectations of what children can achieve. Staff support children to explore the colour, shape and texture of a range of fruits, and to make drawings and paintings of a pineapple. Children learn early mathematical and literacy skills well using the high quality resources and good support from staff. For example, they order objects by size very effectively and discuss the position of cars on a transporter.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are extremely confident and independent. For example, younger children select resources for themselves safely and use them carefully. Older children are very curious and inquisitive. They ask questions, extend conversations, and demonstrate their strong understanding and interest. Children have very good opportunities to be physically active and use equipment that develops their control and coordination very well. Children cooperate extremely well with each other, for example, they negotiate and decide who will take on particular roles in their games. Children are very secure and contribute to group discussions effectively, where everyone is highly valued. They are extremely tolerant and respectful of each other and understand the very high expectations of courtesy and equality as they play. Staff are very sensitive to children's individual needs, providing excellent reassurance and support. Staff work very well with parents, for example, in

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

healthy eating and toilet training, so they can support children consistently.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children learn to observe and investigate well. Their personal and social development is excellent and they are highly effective communicators. All children, including the youngest, make excellent progress in their physical and social skills. Older children include younger ones well in their play and begin to learn letters and recognise numbers.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 146048 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 1061502 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 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 17 Name of registered person Elizabeth Barnes

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 July 2013 Telephone number 01672 515486

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reference number

College Fields Montessori Nursery School is a privately owned setting that registered in 2001. The nursery operates from a single-storey building, located near the leisure centre in Marlborough, Wiltshire. The nursery opens five days a week in term time. Session times are from 9am to 3.30pm. The nursery receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are four members of staff, including the owner. Of these, two staff hold early years professional status and one has a level 5 qualification. The nursery follows the Montessori educational philosophy.

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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.

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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.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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