Little Oaks Montessori Nursery

Little Oaks Montessori Nursery St James Hall, Waltham Cross, Goffs Oak EN7 6RG

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Inspection date 12 September 2018 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Not applicable Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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The provision is good

n The manager implements successful systems to help staff support children in making continual progress. Staff accurately assess children's development and the manager monitors children's progress closely. The manager checks for any gaps between the groups of younger and older children, and addresses these quickly. n Parents comment very positively on the quality of care their children receive. They talk about how the staff care about the children and are friendly and warm. Parents describe how well their children settled in and that staff value their opinions. n There is a very positive atmosphere across the nursery. Staff are caring and nurturing to the children and this is modelled by children being kind to each other. Staff and children have fun and enjoy the activities together. n Staff accurately observe, assess and plan interesting activities that follow children's interests. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n There are few opportunities for older children to practise writing to extend their early writing skills further. n Occasionally, staff do not adjust their teaching techniques consistently, particularly during large-group activities to engage children fully. For example, at these times, expectations for some younger children are too high.

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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

n provide children with more opportunities to practise writing skills in all areas to extend their early literacy skills further n review the arrangements and consider all children are fully engaged during large-group sessions, taking into account their ages, interests and levels of understanding.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed children's involvement in activities and spoke to them during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a sample of children's records and discussed these with staff. n The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector looked at and discussed documentation in relation to safeguarding, risk assessments and daily attendance registers.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a strong understanding of their role and responsibility to safeguard children, including what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The use of effective recruitment and induction procedures ensure that adults working with the children are suitable. The manager successfully implements systems for monitoring, coaching and supervising staff effectively. Children benefit from staff's increasing knowledge and skills. For example, following training, staff are now building more effectively on children's physical development, by adding more activities that promote movement and music. Self-evaluation is accurate and involves parents, children and staff to identify priorities for continued improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff interact well with the children during their play and help them to become engaged in their activities. Children develop good level of independence. Staff have created a cosy reading area, which is inviting with a wide range of age-appropriate books for children of all ages to choose from. Children clearly enjoy this area of the nursery. Staff provide many opportunities for older children to learn about shape, space and measure. They talk to children about what may happen when they add more blocks to the tower in the construction area and encourage them to test their predictions. Staff question children effectively, and give younger children opportunities to work out how they can make the jigsaw pieces fit together and gently make suggestions when needed.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff have strong, nurturing relationships with children. They get to know and value them highly as individuals and meet their emotional needs well. Children are happy and secure. They gain good levels of independence. For instance, they help to prepare their own fruit snacks. Staff spend time getting to know children and their families well. Children settle well into the nursery routine and are curious and confident to speak to visitors. Children have good physical coordination skills, such as learning to throw and catch with increasing ability, and they jump, run and balance well using a range of apparatus.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and motivated to learn. Two-year-old children are very imaginative and gain good control over creative equipment. Older children play well together and enjoy taking on different roles as they take part in pretend play. Children are confident communicators. They learn valuable skills to support their future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY538655 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10077202 Type of provision Full day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Corbett, Karen Patricia

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07930620582

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reference number

Little Oaks Montessori Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery operates from St James Hall in Goffs Oak, in Hertfordshire. The nursery opens term time only. Sessions are from 9am to midday on Monday to Friday, and 9am to 3.30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff, of whom, all hold relevant qualifications between level 6 and level 2. The manager holds early years professional status. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free 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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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