Marlow Montessori School

Inspection of Marlow Montessori School Bovingdon Green Village Hall, Frieth Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2JQ

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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 develop outstanding levels of independence from a very young age. They demonstrate superb levels of concentration as they play and learn with a meticulously planned selection of fun activities. All interactions between staff and children are of an exceptionally high quality. For example, very young children identify which animals live on land, or in the sea or sky. They identify which have 'tusks' and 'shells' and what the difference is between a gorilla and a chimpanzee. Children discuss how a giraffe has a very long neck and how this is helpful for him to eat leaves from high trees. These conversations support children to gain high levels of knowledge and vocabulary for their age. Staff expertly extend children's learning during their chosen activities and they have high expectations of all children. This supports children to build on what they already know and make rapid progress with their learning and development.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are all extremely happy and feel very safe. They make independent choices about their play and snack times and their behaviour is exemplary. They develop excellent practical life skills, such as sweeping, opening jars and learning to use tongs and tweezers during many of their activities.

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need to do better?

n The setting offers a rich set of experiences that support children to learn about people who are different from themselves. For example, children loved a visit from a cultural learning bus. Children watched actors perform West Indian sketches and tried on clothes from many different cultures. Parents and staff share their experiences of celebrating festivals in their home countries to develop children's knowledge. They cook foods from India with children, show photos from Jewish festivals and they celebrate Japanese children's day with gifts. n The setting's provision for teaching children mathematics is outstanding. For example, children learn about size and volume as they excitedly search the garden for rainwater. They use measuring tapes and estimation to determine which jug is the biggest. The setting has an excellent range of resources that effectively teach children about shapes and help them group items as they

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need to do better?

count. n Staff encourage critical thinking and give children plenty of time to solve problems for themselves. For example, very young children quickly determine why they have not gathered sufficient water, as they have selected tools with holes in them. Activities with coloured blocks and cards challenge children to recreate pictures. They demonstrate exceptional concentration and perseverance as they work through different levels of difficulty, recreating the pictures and building on previous learning.

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need to do better?

27 November 2019 n Children form very strong friendships with one another. They work together building structures, then prompt each other in a kind manner to take turns counting and rolling balls down. Older children are regularly seen to help younger children with tasks. Children and staff show lots of affection to one another. n The setting encourages highly effective partnership working with parents. Parents report that the setting has worked very hard recently with teaching children how to be kind. They shared the topic with home and children were regularly heard to identify when their parents were also demonstrating kindness. Parents and children are currently sharing their favourite books for everyone to read and enjoy. After each long holiday, children proudly display posters created with parents. These help them to communicate the highlights of their time away with their friends and teachers. n The setting plans many experiences for children to enjoy heart-raising exercise.

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need to do better?

For example, children enjoy either a yoga session or music and movement each week. They practise regularly in the summer term for their popular sports day and get plenty of time to explore in their garden area. n Children have many fun opportunities to be creative. They are very excited while they learn Christmas songs in English and French to perform to their parents at a concert. Children love to cook each week and share the produce with home. They use scissors and a sticky tape dispenser to create structures out of recycled materials. This helps them learn about small risks as they construct their imaginative models and discuss their creations. n The highly experienced manager values her team and is extremely supportive to them. Highly effective working arrangements mean staff have ample time each week to keep their records up-to-date and to complete extensive refresher training. This means staff become adept at reflecting on their practice and

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need to do better?

maintaining their skills to an outstanding level.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures staff keep their safeguarding knowledge and training up to date. All staff clearly explain a wide range of indicators that children could be at risk of harm. The manager met with her local authority adviser recently to update her procedures for ensuring safer staff recruitment. Staff all confidently explain local reporting procedures should they have any concerns that a child could be at risk of harm. Staff effectively implement procedures to ensure no cameras or mobile phones are used at the setting. They undertake regular risk assessments to help maintain a safe environment for children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 116753 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10128664 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 Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Lundie, Janice Christina

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reference number

Telephone number 01628 477855 Date of previous inspection 9 November 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Marlow Montessori School registered in 1993. It operates from Bovingdon Green Village Hall, on the outskirts of Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three and four years. It is open each weekday during school term times, from 9.15am until 3.45pm. There are three staff working directly with the children, all of whom hold relevant qualifications in early years at level 5. The setting promotes a Montessori approach to education.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed with the manager how staff update their skills and how the team evaluates the quality of the provision. n Parents spoke to the inspector and shared their views about the setting. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector assessed staff's understanding of how to keep children safe. n The inspector observed staff's teaching and the impact this had on children's learning both indoors and outdoors.

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Inspection activities

27 November 2019 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

27 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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