Dulwich Oaks Montessori Nursery School

Dulwich Oaks Montessori Nursery School St Margaret Clitherow Church Hall, 22 Dulwich Wood Park, London, SE19 1HL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 January 2017 8 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 nursery providers have an excellent understanding of the requirements of the early years foundation stage. They work extremely effectively with the nursery manager to provide an excellent service for parents and their children.  The providers and manager regularly review the quality of the provision, using their own assessments, alongside the views of parents and staff. They successfully identify areas for development and make meaningful changes.  Partnerships with parents are very well established. Parents provide excellent feedback on the outstanding quality of care and education provided. They state that staff keep them very well informed of their child's progress and how to support this at home.  Staff provide exceptional support for children's well-being when they leave the setting. For example, they accompany children on settling-in visits to their new school.  All children learn well and make excellent progress from their starting points. This

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This provision is outstanding

includes those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, children who speak English as an additional language and those who receive additional funding.  Staff show excellent understanding of children's individual needs. Where there are gaps in children's learning, they work closely with parents and other professionals to implement additional support. This coordinated approach helps children to make the best possible progress.

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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

 continue to develop the already outstanding outdoor provision to extend opportunities for younger children to explore their climbing skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed a range of activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the quality of teaching and its impact on children's learning.  The inspector had a meeting with the providers and manager. She also explored the views of staff and children at intervals during the inspection.  The inspector had discussions with a selection of parents and considered their views, alongside parents' written feedback.  The inspector looked at a sample of documentation, including policies and procedures, staff suitability checks and children's learning records.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The manager expertly monitors and reviews staff practice, through regular observations, supervision and appraisals. Staff make superb use of ongoing training to improve their qualifications and update their skills and knowledge. For example, speech and language training has enabled them to sharpen the monitoring of children's language development and target support even more precisely. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of safeguarding and their roles and responsibilities to protect children. There are thorough procedures for the recruitment and induction of new staff, to ensure that they are suitable to work with children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Children benefit from the knowledge and experience of the highly qualified staff team. Children's excellent progress is precisely tracked and recorded to identify what they need to learn next. Exciting activities are meticulously planned and skilfully delivered, so that children are eager to join in and flourish in their learning. Children have many opportunities to develop their understanding of the world. For example, they were fascinated as they examined a globe, excitedly considering the different habitats on the planet and discussing the animals that live there. Children are extremely well supported to develop early literacy. For example, older children learn to link letters of the alphabet to the sounds that they make and use these to build simple words.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children develop strong and caring bonds with staff, and are happy and content at nursery. They learn to assess and manage risks in a safe yet challenging environment. For example, children advise their more cautious friends how to safely ride their balance bikes down the slope in the garden. Staff plan to develop this aspect of their provision further by installing new climbing equipment to offer even more opportunities for physical challenge. Children's good health is actively promoted. For example, staff talk to them about the importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables during their sociable mealtimes. Staff successfully provide a harmonious and welcoming atmosphere where all children are valued and respected. Children learn to manage their feelings and develop strategies to manage disagreements independently. For example, they work cooperatively to ensure that they each get equal turns using popular resources.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children have fun, and are active and tremendously confident learners. They develop a wide range of skills, which prepares them exceptionally well for the next stages in their development, including being ready for school. For example, they confidently help with nursery routines, such as serving themselves at mealtimes and clearing away their plates.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY448433 Local authority Southwark Inspection number 1062676 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 65 Number of children on roll 110 Name of registered person London and Surrey Montessori Schools Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 January 2013 Telephone number 07795 322688

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reference number

Dulwich Oaks Montessori Nursery School registered in 2012. It is located within the London Borough of Southwark. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.45am until 6pm, for 51 weeks per year. There are 18 members of staff and, of these, two hold qualified teacher status and 14 hold relevant qualifications from level 2 to level 7. The nursery follows the Montessori philosophy of education. It receives funding to provide free early education for 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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