Cherry Tree Montessori Ltd

Cherry Tree Montessori Ltd 3 Lacon Road, East Dulwich, London, SE22 9HE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 December 2016 7 August 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

 Staff follow thorough procedures which give priority to the safety and well-being of children. Children gain a secure understanding of keeping themselves healthy and safe.  Staff are very knowledgeable, both of the Montessori method and its links with the early years foundation stage. They seamlessly blend the two approaches and children are very confident, engaged learners.  Staff provide a bright, interesting environment where children quickly settle and enjoy a wide range of activities, both indoors and outdoors.  Children develop good independence and practical life skills, and they manage tasks and their personal needs effectively, which helps them in preparation for school.  Partnerships with parents and other professionals are effective. They share a wide range of information, which helps enable staff to meet children's needs successfully.  The manager and staff team are passionate and committed to improving outcomes for

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This provision is good

the children. They provide a positive working environment where staff work well together and are supported to keep their knowledge of current legislation up to date.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasions, children are not able to fully access resources to enable them to extend their chosen play and learning experiences.  Staff do not provide children with opportunities that extend their investigative play, throughout all learning environments.

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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

 review and improve the organisation of some resources to ensure children can continue their chosen learning experience  implement plans to extend the good opportunities for children to use investigative resources, especially for those who prefer to learn outdoors.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play and staff interaction indoors and outside.  The inspector talked with available staff and parents, and held discussions with the manager.  The inspector examined documentation including a representative sample of children's records, policies, staff training records and staff suitability records.  The inspector looked at arrangements for keeping children safe.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager and discussed improvements made since the previous inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff attend safeguarding training and they are aware of the appropriate action to take in order to support children's welfare. The procedures for recruiting new practitioners are thorough, for example staff undergo an in-depth induction. Management monitors staff's assessments of children's progress and planning for their individual needs to ensure they are accurate. Staff receive support from management to develop their professional development. For example, staff have increased their understanding in using various strategies to support children's positive behaviour. Parents speak very positively about the staff. They particularly value the support during the settling-in process and the updates on their children's development.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The experienced staff team skilfully supports children to help to ensure that they make good progress in their learning. Staff are highly responsive to children's interests and needs. Babies respond well to the staff and imitate what they say. They enjoy sensory experiences, for example, as they play with sand, fill containers and make sandcastles. Staff support children's communication and language skills very well. For example, they speak clearly and introduce interesting vocabulary when needed. This helps children learn to speak with more complex words and sentences. Staff plan exciting activities that capture children's interests. For example, children are fascinated as they cut, touch and feel a fish as they learn about healthy foods. Children develop the key skills that will help them learn when they start school.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff nurture children's emotional and social well-being very well and they support children as they move through the nursery and on to school. Children benefit significantly from being able to move freely around the premises. Staff encourage children to follow good personal hygiene routines and to adopt a healthy attitude to exercise. Children have regular access to the outdoor environment throughout the day. Children learn about healthy eating and they taste and eat different fruits which they share with their friends. Children's behaviour is very good and staff consistently model positive behaviour. This helps children learn to share, take turns and respect each other.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are motivated, inquisitive and fully immerse themselves in their learning. They delight in working things out for themselves, for instance they explained precisely how they solved a mathematical problem. All children make good progress from their starting points and capabilities. Children develop good physical and mathematical skills that prepare them for learning to write, count and recognise colours.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 107631 Local authority Southwark Inspection number 1061171 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Cherry Tree Montessori Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 7 August 2013 Telephone number 020 8693 8174

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reference number

Cherry Tree Montessori Playgroup opened in 1996 and is privately owned. It is situated in East Dulwich within the London Borough of Southwark. It is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays. The setting employs 10 members of staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications including two with early years professional status and degrees in early years. The setting operates in line with the Montessori educational philosophy and receives funded early education for children aged 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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