Smiles Montessori Pre School

Smiles Montessori Pre School Unit One, The Fairway, Bush Fair, Harlow, Essex, CM18 6LY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 January 2017 23 June 2016

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 Managers have made significant improvements to the safeguarding procedures in order to protect children in their care. They ensure families receive prompt support and guidance from the appropriate agencies. These procedures have been continuously and robustly tested since the last inspection.  The quality of teaching is outstanding. Staff are adept at seeing potential learning opportunities. They make the very best use of these to enhance children's potential to gain further knowledge and skills.  Partnerships with parents are highly effective. The close working relationships contribute significantly to children's sense of security and well-being. Parents says the excellent communication between the setting and home helps them to be fully involved in their children's learning and daily experiences.  Staff support children's speaking and listening extremely well. They use signing and pictorial symbols to aid early communication and to help all children share their ideas,

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This provision is outstanding

thoughts and feelings.  Children who speak English as an additional language, those with challenging behaviour and children who have special educational needs or disability receive high levels of support. The timely interventions from the dedicated team of well-qualified staff contribute significantly to children's achievements and progress.  Leadership and management of the setting are superb. Those leading the setting communicate a very clear vision to the whole team. They all demonstrate an enthusiasm and commitment to offering children the best possible learning.

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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

 explore further ways for staff to share their expert knowledge and very best practice with other members of the team and evaluate the impact of this on the quality of teaching.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. A thorough review of practice and procedures has been implemented extremely well. All staff are very clear about their duty of care. They know the prompt and decisive action needed where there are concerns about a child. Highly effective partnerships with other professionals help to ensure the necessary information is shared appropriately. This helps to keep each key person fully informed about children's needs. Managers gather detailed data about children's achievements, using it extremely well to track the progress of every child and to monitor the effectiveness of teaching. Staff consistently reflect and plan for further improvement. The training programme is highly targeted, leading to enhanced teaching. The team acknowledges the potential to explore other ways of sharing the very best practice. Robust recruitment, induction and ongoing supervision meetings contribute significantly to

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Children across the setting benefit significantly from the broad range of interesting and exciting activities. Staff working with the youngest children support their strong exploratory senses. They offer children a wealth of sensory experiences that helps to support them in developing their understanding of the world around them. Older children enthusiastically participate in making their own bedtime story books. The oldest and most able children are using their knowledge of phonics to write simple words. Staff skilfully integrate this with children's creative play experiences. Children in every room show high levels of imagination. They use their previous experiences and knowledge to develop their own ideas. Staff plan precisely for children's individual needs, always including their latest interests. Staff make highly effective use of their observations, assessments and planning, producing regular reports on children's progress and always sharing these with parents.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children and staff have excellent relationships. The highly successful key-person system helps children to feel confident and secure. Children are exceptionally well mannered, polite and helpful. Staff make the very most of daily routines to promote purposeful learning. Children spend time learning outdoors every day. Trips to the park and library are particularly popular. On their return, children talk about reading and choosing books. Children benefit from balanced and varied meals. The kitchen team pays close attention to ensuring the children's dietary needs are met. Staff very successfully support children to learn how to keep themselves safe. Children help with simple risk assessments. They use equipment with care and take responsibility for tasks with willing enthusiasm.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make excellent progress from their individual starting points. Toddlers show their ability with numbers as they independently count steps as they come down the stairs. Children are keen writers, using paper and pencils in their role play as they pretend to make lists and appointments. Children are extremely well prepared for school. They show high levels of confidence and independence with a very positive attitude to learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY236797 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1067482 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 65 Number of children on roll 112 Name of registered person Julia Karen Jeffrey

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 23 June 2016 Telephone number 01279422922 07956640180

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reference number

Smiles Montessori Pre School was registered in 2003. The setting employs 25 members of childcare staff. Of these, 20 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, including the provider, who has early years professional status. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, all year round. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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