Windsor Montessori School

Inspection of Windsor Montessori School Romney Lock Road, Home Park, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 6HX

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children are happy in this warm and welcoming setting. Their independence is strong in all aspects of their day. This includes changing their shoes, washing the painting easel after they have used it, and cutting their own fruit for snack. Staff are very skilled in helping the children to know what is expected of them. As a result, children behave exceptionally well and follow the routine with ease. For example, they sit patiently at group time waiting for their turn to stand up and tell others about their weekend.

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The provision is good

Children show extremely positive attitudes towards learning and move around the independent learning area with confidence. They choose from set activities and persist with focus until they achieve the task. Children engage in activities for sustained periods of time.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy sharing books with staff, excitedly guessing what comes next in the story. They are able to complete familiar phrases and choose their favourite book. Staff encourage children to talk about their feelings. For instance, at registration, they are asked to choose a card that symbolises how they feel today. The staff talk to the children about why they feel this way today, supporting the children's sense of belonging.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are enthusiastic and passionate about providing a sequenced curriculum. Staff organise the setting so that children learn in stages and build on what they already know and can do. For example, leaders explain that the children have been practising at organising shape cards in the correct order over the past two weeks. Children rearrange the cards independently for some time until they achieve the goal and line them in order from concrete to abstract correctly. n Staff consistently encourage good manners. Children have an excellent understanding of behaviour rules and behave well. They carry their own chairs to set placements after group time and follow instructions to gather their tasks for their independent learning. Children concentrate extremely well and understand that they must do so quietly so that they do not disturb others. While singing 'Five current buns' they calmly wait for their turn to take a home-

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need to do better?

made bun, demonstrating great self-control to not touch them. Respectful relationships between staff and children are strong and children listen to adults at all times, excitedly waiting for the next activity. n The staff know the children well. Through warm interactions and regular observation, they support children with what they know and can do next. Staff identify when children may need additional support to reach their full potential.

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need to do better?

13 June 2022 They are proactive in putting this support in place. The leaders, key persons and parents work closely with other professionals and implement effective individual plans that support those children's learning. n Staff spend time with the parents when they arrive, and form caring relationships with families. Parents share their positive views of the setting with excitement, saying that it is friendly and their children enjoy attending daily. Parents speak highly of the staff and their efforts in keeping the parents up to date on everything that the children are doing in the setting. One parent proudly said that their four-year-old child can copy sentences from a book now, which they could not do before. n Leaders engage regularly with staff and understand the pressures on them. They take appropriate action to alleviate this when needed. Leaders speak with staff regularly and ensure that their workload is manageable. Staff discuss their

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need to do better?

appreciation for the leader's care over the COVID-19 pandemic, where they were supported well. n There are lots of opportunities during the daily routine for children to learn mathematical concepts in a wide variety of ways. For instance, they count how many shapes there are at registration and take turns in writing the number down. Older children add two numbers together confidently. n Overall, teaching is strong. However, although staff observe the children as they play, they are not always prompt to recognise when a child may benefit from adult support to extend their enjoyment further. A focus on individualised learning and set outcomes for activities slightly limits opportunities for children to be creative.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders share a positive safeguarding culture. All staff take responsibility for keeping children safe, and their knowledge of safeguarding is robust. For example, they know how to spot signs of radicalisation and share confidently how to report this. Staff access regular training to update their knowledge. Leaders support this by asking regular questions and giving staff safeguarding scenarios that they discuss at staff meetings. Risk assessments are robust and carried out regularly. For instance, during outings, the area is checked, children walk together on a hand held rope, and first-aid kits are taken.

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should:

n strengthen the opportunities for children to develop their creative skills n support staff to recognise when individual children may benefit from more adult support in their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 108435 Local authority Windsor and Maidenhead Inspection number 10128647 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Ellawala, Rathnavali Menik

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reference number

Telephone number 01753 868399 or 01344 844592 Date of previous inspection 6 July 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Windsor Montessori School registered in 1980. It operates from Home Park, Windsor. The school employs four members of childcare staff, including the manager. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until midday, and full-day care is offered from 8am until 4pm. The setting provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to 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

13 June 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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