Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery

Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery 26 St. Peters Avenue, Caversham, Reading, RG4 7DD

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 November 2017 11 July 2013

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

 Leaders create a culture of professional development. They support staff to gain additional qualifications to improve their understanding of children's development. Leaders follow effective strategies to ensure that staff knowledge remains up to date.  Staff develop successful partnerships with parents and involve them well in children's learning. For example, staff provide parent packs with top tips for helping children. They encourage children to borrow books from the lending library to enjoy at home.  Staff ensure that children learn about the world around them and are exposed to different languages and cultures, such as by learning about different festivals. They effectively promote diversity and are committed to ensuring that all children and families are included in all activities at the setting.  Children are happy and develop positive relationships with staff. Staff use an effective key-person system and know children's individual needs well.

p.1

This provision is good

 All children, including those who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points. Children are well prepared for the next stages in their learning.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children do not consistently have opportunities to test their own theories or develop problem-solving skills.  Staff do not consistently encourage children to develop their thinking skills and express their own thoughts and ideas.

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

 increase opportunities for children to solve problems and explore their own theories  develop staff understanding of effective questioning techniques to help children to develop their thinking skills and express their thoughts and opinions.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and staff interactions with children.  The inspector spoke to staff and held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection.  The inspector sampled documentation, including staff and children's records, policies and procedures, and evidence of staff suitability to work with children.  The inspector observed and interacted with the children, in the inside and outside environment.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager has a good understanding of her role and responsibilities. Leaders monitor accidents which happen within the setting and minimise hazards successfully to help keep children safe. Staff confidently recognise signs and symptoms that would cause concern about a child's welfare. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff evaluate the quality of the nursery effectively and identify priorities for improvements. The manager implements successful procedures to ensure that staff who work with children are suitable. She monitors staff performance, such as through appraisals and staff meetings.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a variety of exciting activities for children to explore, such as music sessions. Children enjoy singing action songs, which helps to support their communication and language. Children learn about the world around them and develop an understanding about how to look after living things, such as the nursery pets. Staff have developed successful strategies for monitoring children's learning and development. They are skilled at identifying next steps for children to help close any gaps in learning. Staff listen to children and follow their interests well. Staff effectively demonstrate new vocabulary for children to hear and to clarify their pronunciation of words, such as through repetition and songs. Staff motivate children to understand individual differences in the wider world. For instance, they implement a language of the month where children learn phrases in other languages, such as Hindi.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well and understand what is expected of them. Staff follow a consistent routine to help support children to settle in. Staff encourage children to behave well, such as through use of a 'kindness tree'. Staff effectively support children to understand how to share. They help children to respect each other, such as by waiting their turn during group times and playing games in small groups. Staff support children's emotional well-being effectively. For example, staff celebrate children's heritage by organising a 'round the world feast' each year. Staff encourage children to be independent in their hygiene routines and take responsibilities, such as self-registering each morning. Children enjoy spending time with staff, for instance, when sharing books and reading stories together.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Overall, children, including those who speak English as an additional language, develop positive social skills and interact with others well. They gain confidence in early literacy and mathematical development. For example, children enjoy creating autumnal shapes with leaves and exploring the 'letter of the week'. Children develop their physical skills and enjoy throwing, rolling balls down tubes and making ramps.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY339096 Local authority Reading Inspection number 1062015 Type of provision Sessional 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 16 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Vivien Eluned Vincent

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 July 2013 Telephone number 0118 947 7644

p.4

reference number

Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery School registered in October 2006. The nursery follows the Montessori philosophy of education. The nursery is open every weekday morning from 9.15am to 12.30pm, and from 12.15pm to 3.15pm on Wednesdays, during term time only. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs nine staff. Two staff hold early years professional status and qualified teacher status. Four other staff hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 or above.

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