Cawston Montessori

Inspection of Cawston Montessori Cawston Primary Academy, Aylsham Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR10 4AY

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish at this wonderful setting. They are eager to arrive each day, keen to begin playing and learning as soon as they have found their pegs and put away their lunch boxes. Children exhibit extremely high levels of well-being and engagement. They explore the indoor and outdoor environments with curiosity and use materials in creative, imaginative ways. For instance, they delight in making 'potions' with interestingly shaped bottles, water and natural materials, such as rose petals.

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The provision is outstanding

Children build warm relationships with the caring, responsive staff. They seek out adults to proudly share their achievements, including things they have made. Staff respond to these interactions with genuine interest, which encourages children to engage in long conversations about their ideas and experiences. Children demonstrate that they feel highly valued and very safe in the care of staff. They grow in confidence and independence.

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The provision is outstanding

Children competently dress themselves in waterproof clothing to play out in the rain and invite other children to join their games. They build challenging obstacle courses and practise their physical skills on the 'whizzy dizzy' merry-go-round equipment. Staff have high expectations for each and every child. They use their expert knowledge of child development and individual children's personalities and interests to plan engaging and challenging activities. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make superb progress and demonstrate a love of learning.

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need to do better?

n This setting excels at putting children at the centre of everything they do. From staff development to the careful selection of resources and reviews of the environment and practice, everything is geared towards giving children the best possible start. n The manager has developed a strong, child-centred approach. She is tenacious and works hard with her team to ensure every single child attending the setting receives the best care and support, including from external agencies. All staff are involved in evaluating the provision and considering how they can improve it even further. n Professional and passionate staff deliver a carefully sequenced, rich curriculum that helps children to build their skills, confidence and knowledge. They work to widen children's experiences and promote their natural curiosity. For instance, children proudly tell the inspector about the potatoes and sugar-snap peas they

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need to do better?

grew and harvested for their snack. They tell her how they grew the potatoes and how they dug them up when they were ready.

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need to do better?

7 July 2021 n Children's behaviour is excellent. They are kind, thoughtful and eager to play and learn. Children listen carefully to staff and play cooperatively with each other. n The manager's approach to staff development is exemplary. She encourages all staff to take part in peer observations, with clear feedback and coaching to develop their practice. Staff attend targeted training to develop their knowledge and understanding. This results in rapid improvements in areas of focus and the overall maintenance of outstanding practice. n Staff report a high level of well-being and praise the way that the manager promotes their personal development, particularly high-quality teaching skills. They feel valued and appreciated. n Children have a range of ways to express themselves creatively. They 'cook' and make 'potions' in the mud kitchen. Children enjoy complex pretend play with friends and explore materials. For example, they use tools to move, shape and

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need to do better?

mark dough. Children also play a diverse range of instruments, and relish the sensory textures of natural materials as they create fantastic miniature gardens that they have designed themselves. n Staff cultivate superb parent partnerships, which enhance children's learning. Parents say that staff go 'above and beyond' to support children and families. They praise the fantastic relationships that staff build with their children. Parents comment on the wealth of knowledge and support that staff provide, which helps them to support children's learning and development at home. n Staff are active participants in children's play, readily joining in and making the most of opportunities to extend children's learning. They are also highly skilled in recognising when it is more beneficial to take a step back and allow children to figure things out for themselves or persevere without an adult interrupting. n Children become deeply engrossed in their learning and often remain at

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need to do better?

activities for extended periods of time.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff's knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures are extremely robust. For example, they know the signs, symptoms or changes that might raise concerns about the safety or welfare of a child. Staff know how to record and refer concerns appropriately and in a timely manner. The manager ensures that staff keep their knowledge current with regular training. When appointing new staff, the manager follows thorough recruitment processes to assure herself that staff are suitable. She also checks the ongoing suitability of staff.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY554286 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10174102 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Mann, Samantha Paula Griffith

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reference number

Telephone number 01603 865834 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Cawston Montessori registered in 2017. It follows the Montessori educational philosophy. The setting employs six members of staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and the manager holds a level 6 early years qualification. The setting opens Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.45am until 3pm during term time only. The setting provides early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The deputy manager took the inspector on a learning walk across all areas of the nursery and outdoor areas to explain how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector held a number of discussions with the manager, who is also the owner, the deputy manager and staff. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of all persons working on the premises. n The manager completed a joint observation and evaluation of an activity with the inspector. n The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times during the inspection. She

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Inspection activities

also took account of the views of parents spoken to 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

7 July 2021 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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