Wirral Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Wirral Montessori Nursery 20 Balls Road, Prenton, Birkenhead CH43 5RE

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are happy, settled and confident in this well-presented, welcoming and safe nursery. Staff are caring and they speak to children with kindness and respect. This supports children to be eager learners who explore with enthusiasm and play with purpose. Children are given plenty of time to test the equipment and experiment with the resources. For instance, they spend long periods of time concentrating as they master how to draw water into a pipette and then empty it out again.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for all children as they implement the ethos of Montessori teachings successfully. They allow children to test out their ideas without interrupting or dominating their play. This helps children instigate their own ideas. For instance, they play together harmoniously as they build a tower with blocks of different shapes and colours. They delight as they compare their efforts. Staff enhance the experience by subtly acknowledging children's success. They help reinforce mathematical language, such as 'tall' and 'tallest'. This boosts children's sense of self-esteem. Children show high-level social skills. They behave very well and show consideration for each other. For example, children use a woven mat to play on. Staff help children of all ages to understand they can only join the play if invited by the child whose mat it is. When the activity is complete, children return equipment, helping them to learn to keep themselves safe.

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need to do better?

n Parents speak highly of the care their children receive. They praise the calm atmosphere created within the nursery, and the way the staff work closely with other professionals to support children with special educational needs and or disabilities. Children are developing good self-care skills. Parents say that staff's sensitive approach enables their child to experience all aspects of nursery life. n Children are well supported to develop their physical skills and understand about adopting practices that support a healthy lifestyle. Children enjoy riding the tricycles. They explain to visitors how they need to push the pedals forward to make them move. Children run around freely, dig and enjoy fresh air daily. Simple pictures and gentle reminders from staff help them to develop effective handwashing skills. Staff talk with children about why it is important to do so after visiting the toilet. n Staff help children to count and extend their speaking skills through imaginative

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need to do better?

play. They ask children about their castle and what they can see from the top. Children enjoy lots of discussion; they describe excitedly how they reach the top of their castle. There are plenty of good-quality books and children are invited to join in the sharing of stories. However, on some occasions when all children in the group join together for a story, younger children are unable to maintain

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need to do better?

17 September 2019 concentration. This interrupts the enjoyment and learning experience for older children. Nevertheless, children are provided with a language-rich environment. n The learning environment is carefully planned as staff have a good knowledge about children's particular needs and interests. They plan activities that excite and enthuse the children, helping them develop positive attitudes towards learning and a can-do attitude. n The manager ensures that her vision for the way children's learning is supported is clearly conveyed. She takes the time to ensure that new staff fully understand how the more unusual resources and equipment are used to support children's immediate and future learning. Staff work consistently and effectively as a team. They provide good physical and emotional care for the children. n Staff have begun to meet with the manager to discuss their professional development and strengthen their understanding of their roles. The manager

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need to do better?

recognises this requires further time for it to become highly effective. n The manager evaluates the learning environment very well as she regularly assesses why children show less interest in some activities. She makes simple changes to encourage children to explore all the things that are available.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All relevant policies and procedures are in place to safeguard children. Staff demonstrate they are familiar with the signs and indicators of possible abuse. They are confident in who to contact to report concerns. Managers use their experience practically to follow up any children's unexplained absences and alert relevant professionals to ensure children are kept safe and protected.

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should:

n embed fully the recently introduced arrangements for staff supervision and monitoring, to identify precisely any individual development needs, to help raise staff's individual quality of teaching to the highest level n consider the organisation of times when stories are shared in group situations, to allow each child to enjoy, listen and understand them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY545699 Local authority Wirral Inspection number 10106816 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person WIRRAL MONTESSORI LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 01513639330 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Wirral Montessori Nursery registered in 2017. It employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status and two have early years qualifications at level 2 or 3. The nursery opens for 49 weeks of the year. It is closed for two weeks at Christmas and one week at Easter. It is open on Monday to Friday from 8am until 5pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the learning environment inside and out and the ways staff interact with the children. He evaluated the impact this has on children's learning. n Parents took the time to share their views with the inspector. The inspector also viewed written feedback from other parents not present during the inspection. n The manager and inspector had a tour of the nursery. They discussed the way the manager ensures children receive learning experiences that cover all areas of learning and help children to make progress. n The inspector viewed a sample of the nursery's documentation. This included evidence about staff's suitability and training. n The nursery manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. The inspector also held discussions with children and staff at suitable times during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

17 September 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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