Merry Gold Montessori School

Inspection of Merry Gold Montessori School Murray Park Hall, Kneller Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 7DX

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children settle well and are happy in this setting. Staff tailor the settling-in process to each individual child. They make sure that arrangements are flexible to meet the needs of each child and their parents and carers. Staff select each child's key person based on the relationship that they build with the adults in the setting. This helps children to quickly develop strong relationships and a sense of safety and security.

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The provision is good

The manager and staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They teach children to be respectful of each other and the resources in the setting. Children respond to this well. For instance, they tidy away after they have finished with an activity before moving on to another. Children demonstrate consistently good behaviour and politely ask each other if they may join them in an activity or play next to them.

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The provision is good

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, parents do not currently enter the main room of the setting to drop off or pick up their children. Staff greet the parents at the door to complete a verbal handover with them. However, the manager recognises that new parents to the setting may find it difficult to leave their children at the door. As such, staff take appropriate safety precautions to allow these parents to come into the setting to support the settling-in process for their child.

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need to do better?

n The manager has an ambitious vision for children's learning and development. She has developed a curriculum that effectively balances the Montessori approach and the seven areas of learning in the early years foundation stage. Staff share this vision and promote it well in their practice. They demonstrate a clear understanding of how both of these approaches complement each other. n Staff support children's physical development well. Outside, children have a wide range of opportunities to develop their gross motor skills. They run, jump and skip with confidence. Inside, children use large blocks and rods that require two hands and balancing skills to successfully move around. The 'practical life' area encourages children to develop their fine motor skills. Children use tools such as spoons, scoops and tweezers, as well as learning to pour liquids from a jug with ease. n Staff plan the learning environment to make sure that it is developmentally

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need to do better?

appropriate and promotes children's capability of teaching themselves through investigation and exploration. They are on hand nearby to support children, if needed. Children respond well to this and independently access the range of opportunities available to them. However, there are times where children would

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need to do better?

30 September 2021 benefit from further adult involvement in some activities. This would provide them with even further challenge to extend their skills. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. The deputy manager leads staff in how to support these children. She has attended appropriate training to ensure that she has the skills to carry out this role. Each child has an individual plan in place that contains activities and learning opportunities to support their learning needs. Staff make effective use of their relationships with other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, to make sure that they fully understand how to effectively teach children with SEND. n The manager supports staff well in their professional development. She keeps clear records of the training opportunities that staff have accessed and when they are due to be refreshed. The manager ensures that mandatory training,

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need to do better?

such as safeguarding and paediatric first aid, is maintained and does not expire. Staff are also encouraged to complete their childcare qualifications while working at the setting. n The manager has implemented robust recruitment procedures. She ensures that all staff working at the setting are suitable to be able to do so. All staff receive a detailed induction to the setting. They are given reminders of the information they have received and it is displayed for reference. n Parents speak highly of the setting. They value the feedback they receive from the staff about their children's development and how they can extend their children's learning opportunities at home. The manager has introduced the use of electronic communication via a messaging application, to keep parents even further informed about what their children are doing in the setting.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers ensure that staff have a sound understanding of what is expected of them in relation to promoting children's safety and well-being. The designated safeguarding lead has completed the appropriate training to undertake the role. She supports new staff in their understanding of how to recognise children who may be at risk of, or experiencing, abuse, as part of their induction process.

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should:

n enhance staff's involvement in children's play to add even further levels of challenge to extend children's skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 402938 Local authority Richmond Upon Thames Inspection number 10206499 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

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inspection

Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 17 Name of registered person Amarasuriya, Malsri Methmanie

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reference number

Telephone number 020 8898 0962 Mobile 07729242112 Date of previous inspection 12 December 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Merry Gold Montessori School re-registered in 1999. The nursery is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 8.45am to 12.30pm. A lunch club operates from 12.30pm to 1pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. The nursery provides funded early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are nine staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. One member of staff holds qualified teacher status. A further member of staff is employed to set up the nursery each day.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in the evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed staff and children playing together and spoke to staff at appropriate times. n The manager and inspector completed a learning discussion to understand the ethos and curriculum of the setting. n Parents spoke to the inspector and shared their views of the setting and the service they receive. n The inspector reviewed documentation that was relevant to the inspection process and met with the manager to discuss their role and responsibilities.

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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

30 September 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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