Little Oaks Montessori Nursery School

Little Oaks Montessori Nursery School Territorial Army, Youens House, Old Horns Lane, Booker, MARLOW, Buckinghamshire SL7 3DU

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Inspection date 20 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 Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Good 2

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The provision is good

n The manager is well qualified and highly experienced. She sets herself, her staff and the children in her care exceptionally high standards. She coaches staff well and they gently nurture children towards the next steps in their learning. n Exciting and physically challenging play areas are fully risk assessed and diligently managed by the nursery staff and the Territorial Army landlord. For example, children thoroughly enjoy searching for wildlife and making up stories in their woodland camps. n The manager leads by example, skilfully sharing good practice in teaching with her staff team. For instance, staff and children join together to make up a story inspired by the pictures painted on small pebbles. The manager then demonstrates how to use the pebbles to develop children's recognition and use of numbers. n Staff invest huge amounts of time in showing children that they are valued, interesting

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The provision is good

to listen to and worthy of the respect of others. They provide plenty of opportunities for children to practise these skills. Children listen to each other and talk about a broad range of interests as they share meals and play together. n Outcomes for children are very good. For example, children are well-mannered and they are confident to share their ideas and negotiate with their playmates. If they have got something wrong, or could do something better, they happily try again.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n Staff are not managing to engage some working parents and extended family carers to develop high levels of continuity and progress in children's learning.

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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 extend strategies for sharing information with parents and carers who are hard to reach to provide greater continuity and even more rapid progress in children's learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed, listened to and talked with children as they played. n The inspector talked with parents and listened to their views about the nursery and their children's progress. n The inspector looked at children's records, discussed with staff how they plan and evaluate activities, and how they exchange information with parents. n The inspector reviewed records and procedures relating to safeguarding and risk assessment, and discussed a range of other procedures relating to children's welfare with the manager. n The inspector observed care routines and completed a joint observation with the manager. Together they discussed how staff training had contributed to children's learning and development.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The manager is constantly reviewing and improving the nursery provision. For example, she creates highly stimulating play areas for children of all ages and ensures they work equally well for children in wheelchairs and pushchairs. A recently acquired area of land has been the catalyst for children to plant flowers and vegetables and study the cycle of growth and decay. Safeguarding is effective. The manager checks that her staff know how to recognise and respond appropriately to any child protection concerns. She works closely with everyone on site to prepare, follow and share policies and procedures to help keep the children safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are very responsive to children's interests and develop fascinating conversations with them. For example, when children want to find out more about their teacher's new puppy they immediately think of using a mobile phone to transfer a photograph. Staff make the most of this opportunity to discuss aspects of online safety, such as not sharing passwords or using other people's phones. Staff make thorough assessments of children's progress. They know precisely when to challenge children to higher levels of thinking and how to target weaker areas. For example, they use children's interests in dinosaurs to help them improve their listening skills as well as to share more specific facts and details.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff are exceptionally skilled at working with parents to settle children into the nursery, and children rapidly form very secure emotional attachments with them. Children sleep in comfort when they need to and awake refreshed and ready to explore. Staff promote children's interest in eating a wider range of food. For example, children go on outings to buy fruit and vegetables that they nurture, harvest and eat. Children learn to assess when fruit is ripe to pick and they know which vegetables grow underground. Staff link real vegetables with pictures on packets of play food. Children check they are choosing a healthy diet before they take their basket to the cash till at their pretend shop.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are very well prepared for the next stage in their learning. They learn to manage their feelings and adapt their behaviour. They take turns, play fairly and care for each other. Children start school able to manage their own basic hygiene and dressing needs independently. They are used to changing for gym and following safety instructions. Children are curious about the world around them and ask questions to learn more. They enjoy storytelling and discuss zany ideas, such as owning a sausage tree or whether to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse or a red house. Children can use a pencil to 'write' menus and lists as they play and their names on their pictures.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY536650 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10057169 Type of provision Full day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 3 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 8 Name of registered person Sives, Anna-Marie

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07774670820

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reference number

The nursery registered in July 2016. It opens each weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm for most of the year. The premises are located inside the grounds of the Territorial Army Reserve Centre in Marlow. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The manager is qualified at level 4 with a Montessori diploma. She employs a member of staff qualified at level 2 and a part-time volunteer.

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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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