Sunflower Montessori Nursery School

Inspection of Sunflower Montessori Nursery School Causeway Farm, Middleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 3NH

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children generally settle well as they choose resources and activities in the accessible indoor and outdoor learning environments. However, the nursery is not consistently well led. The quality of teaching and learning for the children is variable. That said, children count, sort and sequence items. They practise pre- writing skills as they handle crayons and paint freely. Children learn to use scissors safely. They learn how to catch and then throw a ball into a target. Children work cooperatively as they build with giant bricks and problem-solve as they decide how to manoeuvre a number of full-size tyres across the ground.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, staff model behaviour well. They take the time to explain expectations and consequences of actions with the children. Children are supportive of each other, helping their friends out when they have difficulty putting on their shoes. However, on occasions, particularly during large-group play, children's behaviour becomes very boisterous. At these times, staff do not manage the situation effectively. They resort to raising their voices in order to regain children's attention. In addition, group story times are not delivered well. Staff do not successfully capture or sustain children's interest and, as a result, children's learning is interrupted.

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need to do better?

n The nursery owner, who is also the manager, leads on the planning and delivery of the curriculum. However, the manager is only present in the nursery for two days a week. She spends the remaining three days at her second nursery. There is no competent, qualified deputy to take charge and lead the nursery in her absence. New staff have not been fully inducted to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities. n Staff ensure children are always well supervised. However, insufficient attention is given to identifying and reducing risks in the learning environment. For example, the front gate to the nursery is not adequately secured to prevent unauthorised persons from entering the premises. In addition, risks posed by a stair gate, a children's slide and a sofa, which are all either damaged or worn, have not been dealt with effectively. n Children, many of whom are moving on to school shortly, show that they are

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need to do better?

independent as they take an active part in the daily routines. They take themselves to the toilet and know how to wash their hands. They pour their own drinks and know how to fill up their water jug when it becomes empty. n Staff skilfully model learning with younger or newer children. They demonstrate and explain how to use resources and where to put them away once they have finished. Children learn to care for their environment and living things. They plant and grow vegetables in the greenhouse. Children confidently stroke the pet rabbits and know that eggs are laid by the resident chickens.

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need to do better?

7 June 2022 n All children, including those who speak English as an additional language or those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, benefit from a language- rich environment. Staff talk easily with the children, correctly repeating words that children may mispronounce. Staff introduce many new words and consistently use good-quality conversations. They pose challenging questions and give children time to think. For example, during an activity, children recognise and confidently name a large number of wild animals. Staff skilfully extend children's learning by referring to a picture map and helping children to recall which continent the different animals originate from. n Observations and assessments of what children can do are used effectively. Gaps in children's development are swiftly identified. Information about children's progress is shared with parents. However, recent staff changes mean

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need to do better?

that several children have not been assigned a key person to help ensure that every child's learning is tailored to meet their individual needs. Despite this, parents are positive about the nursery. Several travel distances for their children to attend. Parents comment favourably on the wide range of knowledge, language and skills that their children have acquired during their time at the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements have recently been reviewed and revised. The manager is the designated person to take the lead on safeguarding and there are satisfactory back-up arrangements in place for when she is not present. Staff have a secure knowledge of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse. They complete mandatory child protection training. Safeguarding policies are in place and provide guidance on the procedures to follow should there be a need to report concerns about children's welfare. Safe recruitment procedures are followed when appointing staff. There are clear procedures to deal with accidents and these are followed.

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Due date

ensure that there is a named deputy, who is capable and appropriately qualified, to take charge of the setting in the manager's absence 01/07/2022

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Due date

7 June 2022 ensure that all staff receive an appropriate induction to help them to understand their roles and responsibilities. Induction training must include information about child protection and health and safety issues. 01/07/2022

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Due date

take all reasonable steps to ensure children are not exposed to risks and that there are appropriate systems in place to support staff to address or minimise such risks 01/07/2022

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Due date

ensure that each child is assigned a key person whose role is to help ensure every child's care is tailored to meet their individual needs, offering a settled relationship for the child and building a relationship with their parents. 01/07/2022

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should:

n support all staff to raise the quality of teaching to a higher level, particularly during large-group activities, ensuring that expectations for children's behaviour are commonly understood and applied consistently and learning opportunities remain rich and are not lost.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 260949 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10237963 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 22 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Smith, Lucy Victoria

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reference number

Telephone number 01728 648352 Date of previous inspection 10 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Sunflower Montessori Nursery School registered in 1991. The setting employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including two with early years professional status. The setting opens Monday to Friday, from 8.30am until 4pm, during term time only. It provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the premises, inside and outside, and established how the provider keeps children safe. n The inspector observed the staff interacting with the children and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with all staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector sampled a range of documents, which included information gathered about children, accident records and evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working with the children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke with a number of 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

7 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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