Clifton Children's Montessori School

Clifton Children's House Montessori School Ground Floor Flat, 6 Gordon Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1AP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 November 2016 28 January 2013

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The manager and staff are highly inspirational. Evaluative practice is extremely well embedded within the setting to provide the best opportunities for children to learn. Self-evaluation is precise and accurate to target improvement, and includes the views of staff, parents and children. For example, staff, parents and children were highly involved in the development of the outdoor space.  The quality of teaching is excellent. Staff are highly sensitive and responsive to children's interests. Children are extremely keen to learn and display high levels of engagement during activities. The manager and staff monitor and assess the children's progress rigorously to close any gaps in learning swiftly, to ensure that all children make the best progress possible.  Staff have extremely high expectations of all children. Children are happy and motivated learners. Staff encourage them to make their own choices exceptionally well

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This provision is outstanding

and, as a result, children become very independent which prepares them well for the next stage in their learning.  Staff support the children to learn about the wider world and diversity is reflected extremely positively throughout the setting. Staff help children to gain an excellent understanding of how to keep healthy and safe. Children behave impeccably. They follow instructions well and wait patiently to take turns with the equipment for example.

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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

 implement plans to support children even more to form friendships and join in others' play, particularly for those who are learning English as an additional language.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation.  The inspector spoke with members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection, and held meetings with the manager.  The inspector took into account the views of parents and carers spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The highly qualified manager and staff are committed to their roles. The manager monitors and supports staff exceptionally well in their roles, and actively encourages them to develop their skills further. For example, after attending recent training about how children's emotional well-being affects their learning, staff cascaded information to the staff team, to enable all staff to provide support for children as well as possible. Staff plan to explore further ways to support those who are learning English as an additional language to develop friendships with their peers. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of their responsibilities to keep children safe. They review safeguarding during regular meetings to reinforce their understanding of the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a child's welfare.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff share a wealth of information with parents and are highly skilled at using children's interests to extend their learning. For instance, as children pretended to make 'cranberry juice', staff supported them to make simple calculations about quantities and introduced equipment to develop their coordination skills. Staff use well-considered resources to develop children's thinking and decision-making skills. For example, staff encouraged children to recognise numbers, count and input information into the computer to make a robot move to their chosen space on a number line.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff support children highly effectively to learn about similarities and differences of people, families and communities beyond their own. For instance, they involve parents, inviting them to share their experiences and interests and when celebrating festivals and cultural events. Children thoroughly enjoyed using a large map and resources, such as food, model animals and cultural clothing, to talk about 'citizens of the world'. Children relished preparing their healthy snack, using knives, graters and peelers. Staff extended learning, modelling the safe use of equipment. They encouraged children to have a go at grating a carrot and to examine and compare the different textures they could see.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Overall, all children, including those learning English as an additional language, make excellent progress and become confident communicators. Children challenge themselves; they are extremely eager to learn and develop excellent skills to support them to be ready for school. They show great perseverance and exceptionally high levels of concentration, for example, spending long periods exploring materials and making models in the creative room. Older children become competent at writing their names and sound out the phonics confidently as they form the letters.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY448866 Local authority Bristol City Inspection number 1062699 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Clifton Children's House Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 28 January 2013 Telephone number 0117 3293575

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reference number

Clifton Children's Montessori School registered in 2012. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three and four years. The setting opens from 8.30am to 4pm on Monday to Thursday and from 8.30am to 12.15pm on Friday, during term time only. There are eight staff who work with children. Most staff hold qualifications at level 4 and above. Two members of staff hold Early Years Professional Status and two hold Early Years Teacher Status. The setting follows the Montessori philosophy of teaching.

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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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