St. Peters Montessori School

St. Peters Montessori School St Peter's Community and Advice Centre, 1 Marian Place, Off Pritchard's Road, London, E2 9AX

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 June 2018 4 November 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 Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is good

 Children separate from their main carers extremely well and show they have exceptionally strong bonds with their key staff.  Staff plan a range of activities that is in line with the Montessori approach, to meet children's individual needs. Children make good progress in their learning.  Staff foster a calm and engaging atmosphere in which children can easily keep themselves busy within their play.  Children have direct access to a large outdoor space where they take part in spontaneous and imaginative group games. For example, they pretend to be teachers and pupils.  Leaders organise the nursery routine with thought. This enables children to transition into the nursery well and learning the nursery rules supports them further.  Parents are very happy with the nursery provision, reporting that their children develop well and are keen to attend each day.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not currently gather as much information as possible from parents about their children's starting points, to support staff in planning to meet children's needs right from the start.  The management team has not made effective use of self-evaluation to identify all weaknesses in practice, to help improve practice and outcomes for children.

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

 seek more information from parents about what their children already know and can do on entry, to more precisely establish children's starting points  develop evaluative systems further to enable management to more precisely identify and implement change where needed.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector gathered feedback from some parents of children who attend the setting.  The inspector held discussions with staff members.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider, and sampled a range of documentation.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Secure safeguarding practices support staff to keep children safe and secure in the nursery. Leaders take appropriate steps to ensure their staff team is highly skilled and suitable for their roles. For example, staff complete rigorous recruitment processes and specialised Montessori training in addition to appropriate early years qualifications. The provider undertakes frequent supervisions of staff practice and staff have regular opportunities to improve practice and raise concerns where necessary. The provider is taking steps to provide additional training to the management team on evaluative leadership, though this is not yet fully achieved. Staff training supports the whole staff team in knowing how to appropriately manage any accidents or incidents which may occur in the setting.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Daily observations and assessments of children's play enables the staff team to plan activities for children's individual learning. Staff consistently demonstrate thoughtful and appropriate teaching strategies and most children make good progress. Children are given time to problem solve for themselves, promoting independent thinking and a can do attitude. Staff implement an effective key-person system and children are motivated and enjoy coming into nursery. Staff use an effective planning system to respond to children's interests daily, thus assisting them to engage in their learning more.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's personal development, behaviour and welfare is outstanding. Children show a clear understanding of how to share and compromise with their peers, negotiating where needed. Staff expertly step in to help children negotiate conflict where needed, though this happens rarely. Children show great care and attention to detail in their nursery space. For example, they purposefully choose and use resources, and then tidy them up as they finish with them. Children are able to access a range of healthy foods and take part in preparing these for their peers using a range of utensils. They scoop out an avocado and chop whole apricots for snack time. Staff foster children's confidence and have consistently high expectations about what they can achieve. For instance, children are able to sound out and write three-letter words independently.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Most children make good progress in all areas of their learning. Children's literacy development is of a high standard with some children showing higher than expected levels of development in this area. Children show a willingness to learn and participate in activities, for example they excitedly count in denominations of 10 until they reach 100. Children's understanding of the natural world is effectively fostered through a range of activities, such as using prompt cards, strawberry growing, and reading books about other cultures and festivals. Children are active learners and develop strong independence skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY469729 Local authority Tower Hamlets Inspection number 1132101 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 6 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person Bethnal Green Montessori School Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 November 2015 Telephone number 0207 739 4343

p.4

reference number

St Peters Montessori School registered in 2013. It is situated in Bethnal Green, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 3pm, throughout the year. The provider employs six members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. Three hold qualified teacher status, one holds a qualification at level 4 and two at level 2. The setting fully implements the Montessori teaching methods and staff are trained accordingly. The setting is in receipt of funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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