Mace Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Mace Montessori Nursery 69 Thorparch Road, LONDON SW8 4RH

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is outstanding

When children first arrive, they are very warmly welcomed by caring staff. Staff skilfully greet children in their home language to help promote their sense of self and belonging. Children eagerly take off their coats and hang them on labelled pegs. They quickly settle in the rooms that they are very familiar with. Children's personal, social and emotional development is at the heart of the curriculum.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are highly independent from a very young age. For instance, they very quickly learn to put on coats, lay tables for lunch and serve meals. Children eagerly show visitors how they put on their coats. They are extremely persistent and show pride in their achievements. Very young children tightly grip chunky chalk and paint brushes that help to promote early mark-making skills. Children flourish and make rapid progress in this extremely nurturing nursery and staff have very high expectations for all children.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. For example, pre-school children begin to regulate their emotions and resolve conflict. They consistently show care and concern for each other and sit quietly in a 'peace area' to look at books and have time to reflect on their behaviour.

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need to do better?

n The curriculum enhances children's learning superbly to help them to make the very best progress. They benefit greatly from exceptionally meaningful experiences across the nursery curriculum and the Montessori ethos. For example, children correctly hold tiny paint brushes and make good attempts to skilfully copy Chinese handwriting. They recognise that these marks carry meaning. n Children are extremely motivated and eager to learn. For example, they concentrate as they put together a set of beads to help them learn about quantity, colour and numbers. They become deeply engaged when they use a range of different-sized brushes and sponges to skilfully paint real flowers. This successfully helps children to express themselves freely. n Babies confidently explore the environment as they begin to make sense of their world. For example, they are fascinated by sensory experiences, such as cornflour, sand and paint. Their social skills are supported to the highest level.

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need to do better?

This is demonstrated when babies sit together, shake rattles and move their bodies up and down to songs, such as 'Good morning, how are you today'. n Staff consistently and expertly support all children's early reading skills. Books are easily accessible in all areas of the nursery, to promote children's love of books. Children are encouraged to take a book home to share with parents to extend learning at home. Babies excitedly look at soft books; they are fascinated

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need to do better?

2 February 2022 by different textures and sounds. n Staff show consistently exemplary teaching skills, such as when they read a story about baby owls. They use puppets, tealights and natural resources, such as sticks, feathers and logs, to bring the story alive. Staff engage with children in a highly effectively way. They talk to them and find out what they know and can remember about their home experiences. Children eagerly remember key parts of the story and speak with confidence and fluency. Children are very well prepared for the next stages in their learning and when they move on to school. n Staff swiftly identify and help to close any possible gaps in children's learning. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This helps all children to achieve superbly well. n Exceptional partnership working with parents and other professionals helps to

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need to do better?

ensure very positive outcomes for all children, particularly those who are disadvantaged. For example, parents are encouraged to join a parent committee to share their views and comments. Regular meetings with external agencies help to support the most vulnerable children very well. n Self-evaluation is of the highest priority. Leaders have worked extremely well since the last inspection to ensure they continue to provide an outstanding service for children and their families. For example, all staff have accessed a range of training opportunities to enhance their professional development and teaching skills, such as autism awareness training. Some staff visited other outstanding early years provisions to share excellent practice.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff are fully committed to safeguarding children. They get to know the families of children extremely well. For example, they understand precisely what support children and their families need and use this to ensure that children thrive. All staff receive regular training to maintain their safeguarding knowledge. This results in staff having an excellent knowledge of their safeguarding responsibilities, as well as wider safeguarding matters. Partnership working with other professionals involved in safeguarding matters is highly successful.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY395978 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 10146020 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 60 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Busy Bees Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02078018608 Date of previous inspection 31 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Mace Montessori Nursery registered in 2009. It is located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The setting is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm. There are 13 staff, 10 of whom hold relevant qualifications from level 2 to level 6, including one member of staff who holds qualified teacher status. The setting receives funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector gained the views of parents and talked to children. n A range of documents were viewed by the inspector, including public liability insurance, paediatric first-aid qualifications and accident records. n A learning walk was completed by the inspector and manager. They observed activities provided indoors and discussed the nursery curriculum. n The inspector and manager completed a joint observation of an activity and assessed the impact this had on children's learning and development.

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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

2 February 2022 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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