Blue Butterfly Montessori

Inspection of Blue Butterfly Montessori 5 Barrow Point Avenue, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 3HQ

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children show that they are very happy, safe and settled in this warm and welcoming nursery. For instance, babies happily put their arms up to staff to be cuddled. Older children seek out their key person to read a story with. Staff plan a curriculum which challenges children. They think carefully about the skills that they want children to learn. For example, staff organise activities to help children develop the physical skills they need for later writing. Babies enjoy experiencing different tastes and textures with watermelon. They play with their families with the sensory packs, blowing bubbles and squishing with water. Toddlers show their delight when digging outside with the mud, or carefully bathing their babies in the water tray. Older children begin to make meaningful marks using a range of writing implements. Many children can write their names and read simple words.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff encourage all children to behave well. Children happily share, take turns and play cooperatively together. When the nursery was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff made sure that they kept in touch with children and their families. They kept in contact and shared ideas with parents to extend their children's learning at home. This helped children to continue to develop and a smooth transition to settle them back in.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff watch children closely to find out what they know and can do. They plan activities to follow children's interests and support their next phase in their development. Parents receive lots of information about their children's progress. They have daily discussions with staff and have access to an online assessment system which they really appreciate. This helps to keep parents up to date with their children's learning. n Children have many opportunities to explore and investigate using a range of different materials. Babies excitedly clap and move in time to nursery rhyme songs. Toddlers concentrate as they pour the water from one container to another. Older children become 'scientists' when they use magnifying glasses to investigate fossils. They are curious about the lives of dinosaurs, asking questions about how they lived and what they ate. n Staff recognise that children had limited opportunities to develop their large-

p.2

need to do better?

physical skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. They plan lots of activities for children to develop their skills in this area. For example, older children practise different ways of moving, speeding with their scooters and bikes, while toddlers crawl, climb and slide down large play apparatus. n Children's language development is developing well. Staff repeat the sounds back that babies make and encourage them to join in with rhymes and songs. They provide a commentary on older children's play and introduce new letters

p.2

need to do better?

24 February 2022 and sounds. Older children ask each other questions during their 'show-and-tell' sessions. Staff attend training to help develop their understanding of phonological awareness further to benefit children. n Staff feel well supported by managers and are happy in their roles. They have access to training to extend their knowledge. Staff receive good support from an external adviser, the franchise group and strong links with local schools. For example, recently, they discussed ways to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Managers recognise that staff would benefit from a wider range of professional development opportunities to explore the more recent changes to early years practice. n Children understand how to keep themselves healthy. They learn about good dental hygiene and the importance of eating a good diet. Children enjoy healthy and home-cooked meals in the nursery. They learn how plants grow and why it

p.2

need to do better?

is important to look after the environment. Children care for their belongings by storing them in their 'peg-pockets'. Staff extend and widen their experiences as they sing songs in French, borrow books from the library and learn computing skills. However, staff do not consistently teach older children about online safety. n Staff and children learn from each other about various festivals and the wide variety of cultures that they come from. They share vocabulary in different languages, such as Italian and Romanian. This helps to support children who speak those languages at home.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

All staff have a secure knowledge of how to protect children. They have a good knowledge of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse. Managers make sure that staff understand the action to take if they have a concern about a child in their care. They are very clear about how to deal with allegations. Children play in a clean and hygienic environment. Staff teach children about how to keep themselves safe when, for example, children learn about the importance of being careful if their friends have food allergies.

p.3

should:

n explore a wider range of professional development opportunities for staff so that the quality of education is maximised n help older children to develop an understanding of online safety.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY438813 Local authority Harrow Inspection number 10137973 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 86 Number of children on roll 88 Name of registered person Blue Butterfly Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 02084299446 Date of previous inspection 25 February 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Blue Butterfly Montessori registered in 2011 and is located in Pinner, in the London Borough of Harrow. It is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm all year round, except for bank holidays. The nursery provides early funded education for children aged three and four years. It employs 37 staff. Of these, 23 staff work permanently with children. 26 members of staff hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 3 and above, including one who holds qualified teacher status.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 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 Interactions between staff and children was observed and evaluated by the inspector and the manager. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk to gain an overview of how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector held discussions with the leadership team, staff, the proprietor and the operations manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working at the setting.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

24 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6