Woodentots Montessori School

Inspection of Woodentots Montessori School 6 Rochester Road, LONDON NW1 9JH

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children are inspired by the wide range of natural and real-life resources indoors, in both the classroom and studio, and the exciting, enticing garden. Staff encourage children to question, think, explore and make decisions. They provide abundant support for children's emotional and physical development. This means children are extremely well prepared for the next steps in their learning and development and their eventual move to school.

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The provision is outstanding

The inspirational manager and staff place children at the centre of everything they do. They seamlessly blend excellent teaching practices from a wide range of educational philosophies to create a unique learning environment. They are constantly reflecting on the impact their environment has on children's learning, creating opportunities to enthral and excite them in their play. Staff have extremely high expectations for all children. Children develop a love for learning, due to the highly challenging and joyful experiences that staff provide. Children are always keen and eager to join in with adult-led activities. This is demonstrated through their remarkable levels of motivation and concentration.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceedingly well. They enjoy each other's company, play cooperatively and understand about sharing and taking turns. Children's growing independence is a focus of the nursery and children brim with confidence as they carry out tasks for themselves.

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need to do better?

n The peaceful atmosphere of the nursery creates a sense of immense calm and focus. Children move freely both inside and outdoors. They follow their own interests and have enormous opportunities to explore, be creative and use their imagination. n The quality of teaching is excellent. Staff have a deep understanding of child development and plan inspiring and challenging activities for children. The implementation of the curriculum is firmly embedded within the nursery and the highly skilled staff have a shared view of how to support all children. They get to know children and families very well and target activities to skilfully support children's individual needs. n Children are active and benefit from superb opportunities to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. For instance, they go in the minibus to forest school, play outside in the garden and enjoy looking at the garden wildlife at the feeders. The outdoor area is extremely well resourced. There are a wide range

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need to do better?

of opportunities on offer for all children to take part in physical challenges and learn to manage their own safety. Children are highly motivated, resilient and develop can-do attitudes.

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need to do better?

14 November 2019 n Staff help children to build a love of stories and songs and children immerse themselves in these activities. Children listen intently to the staff as they tell stories and react with joy as they act out their favourite parts of familiar stories. Staff use opportunities extremely well to enable children to predict familiar sounds and learn about letters and the sounds they make. n Parents are expertly involved in all aspects of their children's learning and development. Innovative events, such as 'the lantern walk' which involves the whole family, help parents to gain a sense of what nursery life is like. Parents describe the nursery as 'amazing' and talk about the passion the staff have for children's learning. They cannot compliment the nursery highly enough. n Children's behaviour and attitudes towards other children and staff are impeccable. The polite and courteous staff lead by example. They gently model

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need to do better?

excellent manners and create a positive atmosphere of respect and mutual trust. For instance, during conflicts, staff talk quietly to the children about how their friends are feeling, make eye contact and are gentle and supportive. This contributes towards the extremely kind, considerate and positive attitudes that children naturally adopt. n Staff are very well supported and feel valued in the setting. They are encouraged to gain further knowledge and understanding to support their roles. Staff are highly qualified with a wealth of experience. Consequently, staff are motivated to constantly evolve the setting and are highly focused on giving children the best possible start in life. n Children's use of language is outstanding. They are articulate with a wide vocabulary, using words to express meaning and communicate effectively with friends, sharing ideas and thoughts. For example, as children play in the

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need to do better?

playhouse, they talk about an imaginary journey to India. They use buckets as suitcases and talk about all the things they will need and the weather when they get there. Children have abundant opportunities to build on their creativity and use their imagination.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures that staff understand that safeguarding and promoting children's welfare is everyone's responsibility. Staff receive effective training. They recognise the signs and symptoms that a child may be at risk of harm. They know the correct procedure for reporting and referring concerns. All staff adopt a coherent culture of vigilance. They give children clear safety instructions and readily involve them in the comprehensive risk assessment process. For example, when a candle is lit, children talk about the boundaries and how fire can burn. Staff consistently promote the highest standards of health and hygiene practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 100605 Local authority Camden Inspection number 10128355 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Woodentots Montessori Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 020 7485 0053 Date of previous inspection 22 January 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Woodentots Montessori School registered in 1989. It is situated in a residential area in Camden, in the London Borough of Camden. The nursery is open each weekday from 9am to 3pm during term time only. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years. The nursery school employs eight members of staff, seven of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The nursery school follows the Montessori philosophy of education.

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Inspection activities

n The provider accompanied the inspector on a learning walk to explain how the nursery is organised and to share information about the aims of the curriculum. n The inspector held discussions with the provider, her deputy manager, staff and a number of children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector and the provider jointly observed the quality of teaching during a craft activity in the studio. The inspector observed teaching further throughout the day, both indoors and outside. n The inspector looked at a sample of documents, including evidence of suitability, a record of staff's qualifications and training, policies and procedures, health and safety records and self-evaluation documents. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of 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

14 November 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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