Whitstable Montessori

Whitstable Montessori Townsend Montessori Nurseries Ltd, Unit 4, Markerstudy Business Park, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 3FE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 November 2016 23 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

 Senior managers fully understand their roles and responsibilities. They actively seek the views of others, such as parents and the staff team. This helps them reflect on their practice and identify aspects of the environment to improve.  Children learn to develop their independence skills well in a stimulating environment, where a wide range of resources is easily accessible.  Staff regularly assess children's progress to help them identify any gaps in their learning. They use their observations of children and information from parents to plan for children's next steps in learning. Children continually make good progress.  Children behave well. Staff support the younger children to learn to take turns and share. Staff are calm, respectful and have high expectations of children.  Parents are kept well informed about their children's progress, for example, during the daily discussions with staff and twice yearly meetings. Partnerships with parents are

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This provision is good

good. Parents feel welcomed and are very complimentary about the nursery.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not use all opportunities to model and support children's early writing skills.  On occasions, the daily routine does not meet the needs of all children and some lose interest in their play and learning and become restless.

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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

 extend opportunities to help children develop their early writing skills even further  review and improve the daily routine to ensure it consistently meets the needs of all children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation including key policies and procedures, the improvement plans and children's development records.  The inspector took account of parents' views through discussions.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector held meetings with the manager, area manager and director of childcare, and completed a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff clearly understand the reporting procedures they must follow in the event of a concern about a member of staff or children's safety and welfare. Recruitment and vetting procedures for staff are thorough. A clear process for the ongoing guidance and monitoring of staff is effective. The manager uses regular meetings with staff to ensure they are still suitable to work with children and successfully identifies any training needs or support. The manager checks the individual progress children make in their development and identifies any learning areas to work on. This helps ensure children continue to make good progress and have support where necessary.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how all the different age groups of children learn. Overall, they know how to engage, motivate and stimulate them well. Older children engage in purposeful conversations with staff, which helps them extend their language and understanding. For example, children discuss the differences between animals and what they eat. Staff extend the babies' communication skills, for instance, as they talk about and name their toys. They skilfully develop children's independence and confidence. For example, staff encourage children to use all their senses to develop their own ideas of how to use different equipment. Children thoroughly enjoy the activities, such as when the music teacher teaches children how to follow the beat of a song.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children build good relationships with staff and each other. This supports their emotional well-being and helps them to settle when they change rooms. Staff work closely with the parents and this helps them develop a good knowledge of each child's needs and interests. Staff encourage children to understand and respect the differences between themselves and others in the community. For example, wall displays and a good range of resources enable children to explore and reflect on different cultures and customs. Staff support children's physical well-being effectively. For example, children run energetically, easily manoeuvring between each other as they play games in the outdoor area.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress from their starting points. They follow instructions well and listen attentively; important skills to help them in their future learning, including starting school. Children develop good mathematical skills, for example, they count and match groups of 'animals' to the correct numbers. Children confidently share ideas with each other and staff during their play. For example, they decide on the correct size of basket to go under the guttering to catch the balls as they roll down.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY412806 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1028841 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 0 - 4 Total number of places 106 Number of children on roll 132 Name of registered person Townsend Montessori Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 23 July 2013 Telephone number 01227274444

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reference number

Whitstable Montessori Nursery School is run by Townsend Montessori Nurseries. It registered in 2010 and is situated on the outskirts of Whitstable, in Kent. The nursery opens each weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm, closing for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. There are 25 members of staff employed; of these, 24 have a recognised early years qualification to at least level 2. This includes 17 staff who hold qualifications at level 3 and two members of staff who hold qualifications at level 6. The nursery operates in line with the Montessori educational philosophy and receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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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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