Stepping Stones Montessori Nursery Ltd

Stepping Stones Montessori Nursery Ltd Church of the God of Prophecy, 39 Kitto Road, London, SE14 5TW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 March 2018 6 July 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 Good 2

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This provision is good

 The manager is ambitious for all children to enjoy learning in a challenging and motivating environment. She has high expectations and sets a clear direction for the nursery's future development.  The manager is effectively supported by a committed and well-qualified leadership team. There are good procedures to develop staff's performance in all aspects of their work.  Children achieve during their time in the nursery. They develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to make a smooth start to school and their future learning.  Staff accurately assess children's learning and development needs. They plan imaginative activities to develop children's independence, curiosity and confidence.  Children are well behaved and show kindness towards others. Staff help them to recognise and manage their own emotions well.  Relationships with parents are constructive. Staff keep them well informed about their

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This provision is good

children's progress and provide strong support and guidance. Parents are very appreciative of the warm and caring greeting children receive every day.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff do not encourage all children who show an interest in a new or unfamiliar activity to join in and become fully engaged.

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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

 find more ways to ensure all children who show an interest in activities are encouraged to join in and broaden their interests.

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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 joint observations with the nursery manager.  The inspector held meetings with the nursery manager. He looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and her deputy reflect on the views of parents, staff and children to evaluate the quality of provision and plan future developments. The manager ensures that staff take good advantage of training to develop the provision. As a result, the teaching of children's critical thinking, problem-solving and mathematical skills, for example, is well developed. Staff form good links with other settings that children attend, contributing to continuity in learning. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff have first-aid training and know how to respond to an accident. They have a good understanding of the nursery's child protection procedures through regular training and discussions at staff meetings and appraisal sessions. Staff are well deployed and supervise children effectively.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Resources are stimulating and carefully planned to meet children's interests and build on their learning skills. Staff help children to develop their curiosity and explore the world around them. They make links between different aspects of children's learning to help to secure their knowledge and interest. For example, children develop their problem-solving skills when they make and decorate boxes to safely carry their Easter eggs. Staff encourage children to build effective communication and language skills. Babies, for example, enjoy listening to a wide range of songs and rhymes and strive to follow the actions. Staff provide well-informed support to children who speak English as an additional language.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children get to know their key person well and quickly learn to be confident with all staff. Staff help children to take increasing responsibility for organising and managing aspects of their own learning and behaviour. For example, they successfully encourage children to identify the resources they need to complete a task and to tidy away their toys as they go along. Children's social skills are well developed through, for example, the friendly mealtimes when they work together to lay the tables, complete with a vase of flowers, and serve the nutritious and well-balanced meals the nursery provides.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children achieve well from their individual starting points. They make good progress in their communication and literary skills, including those children who speak English as an additional language. Children develop a good knowledge of popular stories and nursery rhymes, for example. They learn to control a range of different media, such as pencils and paintbrushes, with care and accuracy. Older children write their own names and recognise and write other letters of the alphabet. Children have positive attitudes to learning. Children learn to count accurately and order objects by size and shape in their role play and problem-solving activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 129056 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 1126883 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Montessori Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 July 2015 Telephone number 020 7277 6288

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reference number

Stepping Stones Montessori Nursery Ltd registered in 1996. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or higher, including three at level 3 and two at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery follows the Montessori educational philosophy. 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

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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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