Sunhill Montessori Nursery

Sunhill Montessori Nursery Sunhill Montessori Nursery, Grantham Close, Royston, SG8 5WY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 March 2017 4 December 2013

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The nursery team has not successfully addressed the recommendations from the last inspection. The outdoor areas are not used well enough to support children to explore and extend their learning. The procedures for supporting children and their families when they move rooms in the nursery are not consistently well implemented.  The quality of teaching is variable. Staff do not consistently specifically tailor their teaching to children's individual learning needs. They do not use a robust system for observation, assessment and planning effectively to consistently promote children's learning. However, children are generally offered interesting activities.  Systems for monitoring practice through supervision meetings are not sufficiently embedded to promptly identify weaknesses in practice. The manager does not swiftly support staff, through coaching and training to improve their understanding of their role

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It has the following strengths

 Staff are kind and caring. Those working with the babies are conscientious in their role. They make sure they have the most recent information about children's routines, such as their regular sleep and feeding plan.  Some staff working with the older children aged two years and over provide more purposeful learning experiences and consistently good quality interaction.  Many parents remain supportive of the nursery and the new staff team. They express positive views about the care their children receive.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 consider the individual needs, interests and stage of development of each child, use this to plan a challenging and enjoyable experiences for them, focusing on the prime areas of learning for the youngest children 07/04/2017

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Due Date

 improve the use of supervision to identify weaknesses in practice and solutions to problems as they arise, ensure coaching to improve the quality of teaching is implemented rapidly. 07/04/2017

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 enhance the outdoor areas and ensure they are included in planning when considering how to meet children's individual learning needs.

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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 nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and the provider's representatives. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection, looked at emails they had provided and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The newly appointed manager acknowledges the need to improve the quality of the provision for children in the nursery. A large number of staff have left the nursery including the previous manager. This and high levels of staff sickness have resulted in frequent changes to staff working in the rooms with children. There has been a lack of monitoring of staff practice, the quality of teaching or children's progress. Supervision meetings with staff have not been taking place and some staff are not clear about the full remit of their role. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are aware of the possible signs that a child might be suffering harm. They know how to report concerns within the nursery in order for a referral to be passed to the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The new manager has begun to make links with other professionals in the local area. She has also re-established the regular newsletter for parents to keep them

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Children do not always get the most from the learning opportunities provided. Staff do not consistently engage and interact with children to help them explore and develop their ideas and thinking. Some staff do not use the information from observations to plan for children's precise learning needs and, therefore, the quality of teaching varies considerably. Children enjoy listening to stories and singing songs. Younger children have fun with dolls, playhouses and kitchens. Babies enjoy appropriate opportunities to explore their surroundings. They are interested in moving beads along the bendy wire of the bead maze and enjoy rolling the balls along the floor. Older children enthusiastically participate in cooking activities. Staff hold open evenings to provide parents with the opportunity to meet with their child's key person to discuss their child's progress.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Each group room has its own outdoor area and children have daily opportunities to play in the fresh air. Staff are aware of children's dietary needs and make sure meals and snacks are suitable for children who follow a specific diet or have allergies. Children enjoy good opportunities to develop their independence. They learn to put on their coats and shoes for themselves ready to go outside. Children are well behaved in the nursery. They listen well to instructions and show that they understand the rules, such as walking indoors as they move from one area of the room to another. Children and staff follow appropriate hygiene routines. Staff wear aprons and gloves when changing nappies and children quickly develop their handwashing skills.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children do make progress despite the variable quality of teaching. Children's level of development is generally recorded when they first join the nursery. However, children do not always have sufficient opportunities to build on what they know and can do. The pre- school age children show their good understanding of letters and sounds. They make reliable predictions about items that float or sink as part of their learning about the world. Children are generally prepared for the next stage of their learning, such as in school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY463845 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1066952 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 - 5 Total number of places 78 Number of children on roll 132 Name of registered person Sunhill Daycare (Europe) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 December 2013 Telephone number 01763 226 030

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reference number

Sunhill Montessori Nursery was registered in 2013. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery 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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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