Discoveries Montessori Nursery School

Discoveries Montessori Nursery School Brenchley Scout Headquarters, Brenchley Road, Brenchley, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 7NX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 April 2017 21 May 2015

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The manager leads by example and manages a strong, well-qualified and enthusiastic staff team. They work effectively together to help provide children with a good range of learning opportunities.  Staff are nurturing and sensitive. They establish extremely secure attachments with children who seek and enjoy staff interactions throughout the day. This helps children to develop confidence and self-esteem.  Children flourish in a rich environment which provides an abundance of motivating and stimulating resources. A well-considered mix of Montessori activities, natural resources and purchased equipment link together to help provide children with endless opportunities to explore. Children make good progress.  Staff talk and listen to children consistently. For example, they use simple questions to enable children to think about what they are doing and what they want to do.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager does not make the best use of all opportunities to further help staff to recognise areas for their professional development to extend their skills.  Staff do not make the best use of their partnerships with parents to help them gather a wide range of information about what children know and can do before they start.

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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

 make greater use of opportunities to further help staff extend their knowledge and skills  build further on partnerships with parents to gain a wider range of information about what children know and can do when they start.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and child interactions within the indoor space and outdoor environment.  The inspector gained the views of parents.  The inspector viewed documentation, including safeguarding policies and procedures, staff records and children's developmental records.  The inspector talked to staff about how they supported children's development.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager to focus on staff and child interactions.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager ensures that staff are confident in recognising and recording concerns, such as a change in a child's behaviour. They follow well-developed policies to report any concerns and work closely with other professionals to help keep children safe and protected. The manager works with the staff and parents to consider and effectively evaluate aspects of their practice. She welcomes feedback from other professionals, which she uses to help her to review and implement relevant changes to ensure that all children are fully supported. The manager oversees the monitoring of children's progress both individually and within specific groups. She quickly recognises any children who need additional support to help them catch up.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff complete accurate observations of children's play, which helps them to recognise their achievements and assess children's progress. Staff identify children who need extra support in specific areas, such as communication and language. They provide many opportunities for children to catch up. For example, staff consistently repeat back what children say and extend words to help children form simple sentences. A daily exchange of information enables staff to help parents to support their children's development at home further and helps to provide a consistent approach.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are extremely respectful of those around them and play cooperatively with their peers. Staff are highly skilled at offering advice and using simple questions to help children consider how to manage their own and others' behaviour and safety. For example, staff's use of questions leads children to reflect on and consider how to change their game to develop new ways to play. Children are supported exceptionally well to learn about where food comes from and how food can help to keep them healthy. For example, children were actively involved in growing pumpkins from seeds and making healthy pumpkin soup for snack time.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children progress well, including those who need additional support. They have plenty of opportunities to develop and practise key skills. For example, children wash up their plates after snack time and show pride in their achievements. This helps children develop their independence and self-care skills. Children are keen, enthusiastic learners who enjoy challenge and persevere with simple tasks. These skills help children to confidently move on to their next stage of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127146 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1089332 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Sandra Elizabeth Fisher

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 May 2015 Telephone number 07971289867

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reference number

Discoveries Montessori Nursery School registered in 1999. It is located in Brenchley, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday from 9am to 3pm during school term times. The nursery employs seven staff, all of whom have appropriate early years qualifications. The manager and three other staff have relevant level 4 qualifications. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery adopts the Montessori approach.

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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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