Gerrards Cross Montessori School

Gerrards Cross Montessori School Methodist Church Hall, Oak End Way, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8BR

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 September 2017 15 May 2015

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 The leader and her staff have successfully addressed the recommendation set at the last inspection. For example, children are encouraged to use their home language and staff provide a range of books and other resources to support this.  The provider has high expectations and is committed to improving outcomes for children. She is supported well by an enthusiastic and dedicated staff team.  Staff have created strong bonds and attachments with children. They ensure that children feel safe. Staff meet children's emotional needs well. Children are very settled and thoroughly enjoy attending the setting.  Effective partnerships with parents and other professionals support staff to meet children's individual needs. They work together consistently, sharing information about children's development and care.  Staff understand how children learn and develop. They provide a variety of stimulating and challenging activities, and children explore with confidence. All children make good

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Systems to monitor staff teaching skills are not yet developed enough to raise the good quality of teaching to an even higher level.  Existing systems for self-evaluation are not always clear to identify precise targets for improvement or to assess the success of any changes that have been made.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 develop the use of monitoring and reflection to help raise the good quality of teaching to an even higher level  enhance self-evaluation procedures further to more clearly identify precise targets for improvement and assess the impact that any changes made have on children's learning.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the support for children's learning, during activities inside and outside.  The inspector spoke with staff, parents and children at convenient times throughout the morning.  The inspector checked how well staff understand how to keep children safe.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the provider.  The inspector looked at some records, including children's learning journals, staff training certificates, accident and medication reports, and the attendance register.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider and staff have a good knowledge of their responsibilities and know the procedures to follow to protect children from harm. The qualified staff are appropriately supported in their roles by the provider. They benefit from regular team meetings where they are given opportunities to discuss training needs, and the development and well-being of their key children. The provider works directly with a small staff team. She monitors children's progress well to help staff identify and plan for any gaps in children's learning. Parents comment that children are self-confident and are highly motivated to learn. They are delighted with the care provided.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a good range of activities for the children that supports their ongoing learning and development. Children of all ages enjoy participating in group times, where they learn about the weather and days of the week. Children are encouraged to count and use numbers at every opportunity. For example, staff help children to count how many days have passed in the month. Staff support children's communication and language development. They ask children questions about their play and involve them in discussions as they play alongside them. Good attention to the physical environment provides children with interesting opportunities to develop their skills in all areas of learning, during their play inside and outside.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children clearly enjoy attending this welcoming and friendly pre-school. This helps them to grow in confidence and feel emotionally secure. The provider and staff are good role models for children. They manage behaviour calmly and encourage children to be sensitive towards each other. Children are polite and friendly. They learn to be tolerant, respectful and kind. Children develop good physical skills. They enjoy wriggling through play tunnels as they play together. Staff encourage children to develop good hygiene habits. For example, all children learn the importance of handwashing before and after meals.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children use their imagination well and confidently share what they are doing with friends. For example, they pretend to have a picnic and share food and drink. Children develop good literacy skills. Younger children have many opportunities to make marks and learn to recognise the letters that form their names. Older children enjoy writing simple words and their names. All children become independent in their self-care skills and develop good social awareness. They learn the skills they will need to be ready for school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 108065 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 1089017 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 13 Name of registered person Lorraine Douglas

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 May 2015 Telephone number 07768 180397

p.4

reference number

Gerrards Cross Montessori School registered in 1999. It is open from 9am to 12.45pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, during term time only. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of early education for children aged two, three and four years. The provider employs two staff, both of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

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

p.5