Blue Skies Montessori Nursery

Blue Skies Montessori Nursery Frankton Road, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 7FB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 October 2017 6 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

 Managers are extremely enthusiastic and dedicated to their role. They lead a very well- established team of staff that takes pride in its work and has a genuine interest in promoting children's development. Together, they evaluate aspects of practice and implement changes to help build on the good standards provided.  Staff observe and assess children regularly. Overall, they use this information to provide a range of Montessori activities, varied resources and equipment that promote their learning well. Children make good progress from when they start at the nursery.  Staff build positive relationships with parents and value their feedback about the service they provide. They consult with them, sharing information about their children's learning and providing ideas for parents to help their children to continue to learn at home.  Staff are extremely nurturing and positive role models. They establish strong

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This provision is good

attachments with children and consistently pay attention, praise and encourage children throughout the day. This helps to support their confidence and emotional well-being.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The professional development of staff focuses on essential aspects of training, rather than being specifically targeted on raising staff skills in supporting children in specific aspects of development.  During the autumn and winter months, resources outdoors are not sufficiently organised or arranged to enable children who prefer to learn outdoors to easily access them.

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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

 focus more precisely on developing a targeted programme of professional development and improve staff skills in supporting specific areas of development.  enhance how resources outdoors, specifically during autumn and winter, are organised and made accessible to help support children's development for those who prefer to learn outdoors.

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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 provider.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider. She looked at relevant documentation including policies and procedures.  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 good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are confident in recognising all types of child protection concerns. They are clear about their responsibility to share information and who to report this to, within the setting and the local authority. The manager regularly reviews the range of policies and procedures that are used to support safe practice. Staff complete risk assessments and support children to understand potential hazards. For example, children role play at preparing meals and staff talk about being careful not to burn their hands on cookers. The manager works well in partnership with other professionals. She attends meetings and welcomes feedback to help produce specific plans of support for some children. The management team oversees the monitoring of children's progress individually and in groups.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Well-qualified staff promote mathematics well. Children take part in focused Montessori activities and learn to recognise numbers up to 10. For example, staff extend their learning and ask children to place the correct number of small wooden spindles that correspond to the number they see. Children concentrate for long periods of time completing puzzles. Staff skilfully observe and allow the children time to work out where the pieces go themselves. Children enjoy playing with toy trains and people. They create bridges and work out how to connect pieces of track together to make it longer. Staff help children develop their speaking skills. For example, they use different words and ask questions while children play. This also helps promote their thinking skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They greet new people with happy, smiling faces and say hello. Children play extremely well together and offer appropriate encouragement during play. Staff have very high expectations of behaviour and teach children about respect and valuing each other as unique and special. Children thoroughly delight in playing games with staff and practise their excellent physical skills, carefully holding hands and moving around in circles. They try to jump and staff offer an abundance of encouragement. This helps promote their self-esteem even further. Children are extremely well prepared for school and display very high levels of curiosity and concentration.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress and thrive in this setting. They are inquisitive and motivated to learn. Children enjoy socialising with their friends at snack and lunch time and pass the healthy foods on offer, around the table. They follow good hygiene routines and learn to wash away germs from their hands. Children carefully tidy away toys independently, so their friends are able to have a turn. They are very settled in this calm, friendly and welcoming setting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY367125 Local authority Bury Inspection number 1093297 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person Blue Skies Montessori Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 May 2015 Telephone number 01617 678100

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reference number

Blue Skies Montessori Nursery registered in 2008 and is situated in Bury. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.45am until 5.45pm for 51 weeks of the year. There are five staff including the owner, of whom two have early years professional status. One member of staff holds a qualification at level 4 and two staff members hold a qualification at level 3. The nursery provides funded, early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It follows the Montessori approach to early years education.

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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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