The Montessori Nursery At Headingley

Inspection of The Montessori Nursery At Headingley 114 Cardigan Road, Leeds, Yorkshire LS6 3BJ

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are highly motivated to learn and extremely happy and settled in this welcoming and friendly nursery. Staff work hard from the outset to build exceptional relationships with children. Children are confident to ask questions, make suggestions and predict what will happen next, for example when listening to and joining in with stories and songs. Children have an excellent awareness of safety. For instance, they know that they must hold the bannister as they use the stairs, and not to push their friends in front. Children tuck chairs under tables when they leave. They handle a wide range of tools and delicate materials with great care and caution. Children tidy away after each activity and leave the equipment organised and ready for their friends.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They play harmoniously together, demonstrating excellent consideration and empathy for their peers. For instance, an older child notices a young child sitting on a push bike and very kindly offers to push the bike for them. Children choose the materials they wish to work with and benefit from prolonged periods of uninterrupted time to play and experiment. They develop a wide range of physical skills. For instance, younger children scoop out the pumpkin seeds with spoons. Older children transfer flour and salt very skilfully from one small container to another. Children use tongs to pick up and place small objects in containers, which helps to develop their small-muscle control.

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need to do better?

n Good leadership, regular self-evaluation and effective team working contribute to a well-organised provision. The manager supervises and supports the staff to reflect on their practice. He carries out peer observations which help them to evaluate the practice of others. He ensures the staff have access to appropriate training, to further their continuous professional development. Good progress has been made to address the action and recommendation raised at the last inspection. As a result, staff have good knowledge on the 'Prevent' duty, which relates to wider safeguarding issues. n Staff prioritise developing children's language and communication skills. They skilfully reinforce new words and concepts during their interactions and the routine includes plenty of opportunities for children to talk, listen, sing and enjoy stories. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are fully included during activities.

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need to do better?

n Children's personal, social and emotional development is integral to all learning. Children, including the very youngest, can concentrate for sustained periods. Adults know the children well. They know how to support children if they become anxious or lose focus. This helps them to re-engage in their learning. There are strong systems in place to encourage children's self-help skills. This

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need to do better?

21 October 2021 means that the very youngest children learn how to become independent. n Staff identify what children need to learn. They identify any gaps in children's learning and ensure plans are in place to meet each child's specific needs. Children build on what they know. Staff frequently discuss the progress and development of each child. The development of children's mathematical knowledge is woven through different activities. However, staff, occasionally, miss opportunities to motivate the most-able children's interest even further in more complex aspects of mathematics. n Relationships in the nursery are very strong and this supports outstanding behaviour. Children are very effectively managed by staff in a friendly and unobtrusive way. Staff encourage children to talk about their feelings and this helps them to understand the impact that their behaviour choices can have on others. n Children learn the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They enjoy

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need to do better?

nutritious food, follow effective hygiene routines and engage in physical exercise each day, regardless of the weather. However, sometimes, preparation for outdoor play for the older children is prolonged and they are left waiting an unnecessary amount of time. n Staff develop positive partnerships with parents from the outset. For example, they talk to them at the earliest opportunity to find out about their children's care and learning needs. The management team and staff have adapted well to the challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents have not been allowed into the building. However, they say that they do not mind because they receive quality feedback from staff when they come to collect their child, and from the online system.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of what they need to look out for regarding concerns about a child's welfare. They have full understanding of the procedures to follow to deal with their concerns. Staff undergo regular, comprehensive training to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. The manager has effective systems in place to make sure that children are readily identified and well supported, where necessary. He has a robust recruitment procedure in place, including a series of comprehensive background checks to ensure staff suitability for their roles.

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should:

n enhance children's opportunities to learn more complicated mathematical concepts as they play to help them to develop even more skills to support their future learning

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should:

21 October 2021 n consider the routines and preparation time for outdoor play, to help reduce the time pre-school children have to wait before they are able to go outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY558210 Local authority Leeds Inspection number 10198110 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 112 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person York Montessori Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07780335471 Date of previous inspection 14 May 2021

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Information about this early years setting

The Montessori Nursery At Headingley registered in 2018. It is part of the Yorkshire Montessori Group. The nursery currently employs 15 members of staff including the manager. Of these, nine hold qualifications at level 6, one holds an appropriate early qualification at level 4, two hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery follows Montessori teaching methods.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in the evaluation of the setting. n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager and discussed how the curriculum is delivered. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

21 October 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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