Willow Lodge Montessori School

Willow Lodge Montessori School Willow Lodge Montessori School, Dorchester Road, Lytchett Minster, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6JE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 October 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 Good 2

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This provision is good

 The manager works well to oversee the quality of the educational programmes. She works effectively with key persons to monitor children's development closely and ensure that they address any gaps in learning quickly. All children, including those who receive funding, make good progress from their starting points.  Staff have a good understanding of how children learn and develop. They apply their knowledge and skills well, for example, to help older children learn about the world they live in through daily group times to discuss the different weather and seasons.  Older children develop useful skills that support their future learning effectively. They learn to listen carefully, for example, to information about vegetables, joining in songs about them, and answering questions about how they look and how to eat them.  Staff are positive role models and provide a caring environment for children to learn

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This provision is good

and develop. Children arrive excitedly, are keen to learn and feel safe.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The monitoring of staff practice is not as consistently high across all areas of the nursery, such as the baby room, to ensure that all children engage as well possible in their learning.  Information about children's next steps for learning is not readily available so that staff, other than key persons, and parents are able to challenge children's individual learning fully.

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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

 ensure the monitoring of staff practice is consistently high across all areas of the nursery  make information about children's next steps for learning more readily available so that all staff and parents are better informed and able to challenge children's individual learning fully.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children and staff during activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and spoke with parents, staff and children.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including assessment records and planning, policies and procedures, and feedback from parents.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability checks and qualifications of staff, and the nursery's improvement plan.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff attend child protection training and have a good understanding of how to keep children safe. They are clear about what to do if they have a concern about a child's welfare. Overall, the manager supports staff well. She encourages them to attend training that successfully updates their teaching skills. Recent training has led staff to interact more effectively with other professionals and children to ensure children receive the additional support they need to achieve. Self-evaluation is effective. Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have successfully improved the presentation of resources, to create more exciting and challenging play areas that inspire children's interest and curiosity. The manager uses additional funding well to meet children's needs. For example, new scooters help children to interact and develop their physical skills as they 'race' each other outdoors.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff make good use of information from parents to accurately assess children's starting points and plan activities that reflect children's interests and learning needs. Overall, staff support children well. For example, they encourage younger children to count apples when singing number songs, and describe the shapes they see when drawing pictures. Staff support older children well to be independent and learn new skills; for example, to learn about carrots and cut them up safely to serve to the nursery's guinea pig. Resources are exciting and inviting. In the baby room, staff encourage the babies to investigate new resources to develop good confidence and independence.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy, content, and feel valued. They play well together and form strong relationships with staff and other children. Babies develop a strong sense of security and curiosity in their environment. Staff follow their individual routines and sensitively meet their individual care needs. All children enjoy physical activity. Those children who receive funding use ride-on toys confidently and successfully negotiate their way around outdoors. Younger and older children gain good independence skills. For example, they find their name and display it on a board, and choose which peg they want to hang their bag and coat on.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children successfully acquire the skills they need to move on to the next stage of their learning, including going to school. Older children learn to recognise and write their name. Younger children use mathematical language in their play to count and recognise numbers. Babies and young toddlers confidently choose activities for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY330228 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 1061979 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 56 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Willow Lodge Montessori School Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 July 2013 Telephone number 01202 624 573

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reference number

Willow Lodge Montessori School registered in 2006. The nursery operates from a Victorian school in Lytchett Minister, Poole, Dorset. It is open every weekday, from 8am until 5.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 11 staff employed to work with the children. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 7, six hold a qualification at level 3 and two have a qualification at level 2. The nursery follows the Montessori method of education.

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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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