The Ark Montessori Nursery

The Ark Montessori Nursery 37 County Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 8HN

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 September 2016 17 September 2012

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Staff interact well with children and are skilled at starting discussions to enhance children's language and communication skills. Children listen and attend well and are confident to speak in front of others.  Children settle in quickly and develop close relationships with their key person. Staff support children to develop high levels of self-esteem. For example, they listen carefully and respond thoughtfully to children's opinions, helping them to feel valued and secure.  Partnerships with parents are good. Staff communicate well with them, exchanging information about their children's daily routine and learning. Regular coffee mornings that parents attend, help them to understand how staff support children's learning and how it can be extended at home.  Children are typically taught well. They are confident and enthusiastic learners who clearly enjoy their time in the setting. Children make good progress in their

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff's observations and assessments are not consistently well used to support children's progress and learning.  Children are not sufficiently supported to explore and express their creativity to aid their learning.

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

 enhance the consistency of staff's observations and assessments to better support children's progress and learning  expand children's ability and confidence to explore and express their creativity.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed a range of play activities along with care routines and spoke to the staff about the children's learning and development.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider.  The inspector looked at a sample of documentation.  The inspector spoke to some parents and children and took into account their views.  The inspector toured the nursery premises with the provider.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager monitors and reviews staff practice through regular observations, supervisions and appraisals. Staff have training within the setting and through the local authority, to enhance their practice and children's outcomes. For example, staff understand how to support children's language and communication more effectively, following training. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff members are trained to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of how to keep children safe. The provider has attended training on safer recruitment procedures, which helps her to ensure that staff employed are suitable for their roles. The provider takes into account the views of staff, parents, children and others when evaluating the provision, to help secure and maintain good outcomes for all children.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The quality of teaching is good. Staff support children's understanding of numbers and counting well. For example, at group time they are encouraged to predict and then count how many items are left when one is taken away. Children have good opportunities to develop their understanding of the world around them. For example, during water play children learn about the differences between ponds and rivers, and link these to their own experiences of visiting different places. Staff regularly observe children and carry out individualised planning to help support their learning. Information on children's progress is used well to plan future work and is shared with parents each term.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are good examples in how to treat others; for example, they speak calmly and respectfully to children and to each other. They use praise to motivate children to behave in positive ways, and support their social and emotional skills well. Staff help children to develop personal care skills and to adopt healthy lifestyles. For instance, children serve themselves at snack time, where they taste different fruits and talk about their likes and dislikes. Children enjoy active play outdoors, and they benefit from the enthusiasm of staff, who initiate a range of physically stimulating games and activities.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children develop the skills they need for the next stages in their learning, including being ready for school. They acquire early writing and counting skills well. For example, children enjoy mark making in the sand and they count how many cups and plates they need at snack time. Children make good progress, given what they know when they start.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY102531 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 1058783 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 20 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Neotrace Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 September 2012 Telephone number 0208 240 0076

p.4

reference number

The Ark Montessori Nursery was registered in 2001. The nursery is situated in the London Borough of Croydon. The nursery is open from 9am until 3pm from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions run from 9am to midday and from midday to 3pm, or children can stay all day. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery supports children who are learning English as an additional language. There are five staff members, three of whom have relevant childcare qualifications. The nursery follows some aspects of the Montessori philosophy.

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