Montessori & Me Nursery

Inspection of Montessori & Me Nursery 319 High Road, Romford, Essex RM6 6AX

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision requires improvement

The management team has a clear expectation of what they want children to achieve. The learning programme is designed to help children to make progress from their starting points in learning. However, the quality of teaching is inconsistent across the staff team. During the inspection, some children did not have consistent opportunities to hear good models of language. Furthermore, staff's induction processes are not always robust. The providers are aware of this and demonstrate a willingness to make further improvements to enhance the quality of care and education provided for the children. This includes the recruitment of more qualified staff.

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The provision requires improvement

The routines of the day are well planned. This helps children to settle easily at the start of their day. Children in all rooms at the nursery play kindly with each other. Staff help children to learn to share and take turns as they play together. Overall, children are happy and behave well. Children develop their confidence. They change into their indoor shoes when they come into the nursery. Children know when to ask for help and staff promptly encourage and support them. In addition, the chef and staff have a thorough understanding of children's dietary requirements and allergies. Children in the baby room are calmly smoothed to sleep. This supports children's personal development and health.

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need to do better?

n The manager has responsibility for training and induction. Most staff show an appropriate knowledge of the nursery's policies and procedures. The manager is aware of the training needs of all staff. However, some staff do not understand all of the nursery's policies and procedures. This has an impact on the quality of education that children receive. n The manager and providers have an effective recruitment procedure and carry out suitability checks on all new staff members. However, staff's skills are variable. Staff are not consistently deployed effectively, which impacts on children's learning and development. n Staff promote children's exposure to early literacy in the nursery. They provide various activities about the story 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' in the pre-school room. However, in the pre-school room, staff frequently stop reading to explain to children how to sit. These interruptions mean that some children find it

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need to do better?

difficult to listen and engage in some stories. n The support for children's independence skills is variable. For example, many children pour their own drinks and scrape their plates after lunch. However, in the toddler room and pre-school room, when children use the toilet, the toilet roll which they need is not always in easy reach. Kind staff are usually available to support them. However, this shows that staff do not always understand how

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need to do better?

22 September 2022 to prepare the environment to help children to consistently manage their self- care skills. n Staff in the baby room joyfully sing the menu for the day to children. Babies respond well to this. This promotes some children's language and communication skills. n Staff in the toddler room skilfully extend children's learning. During a story time session, staff use gentle tones and playfully encourage children to repeat refrains from a familiar story. This helps children to build a love of reading and encourages them to have a positive attitude to their learning. n Children choose activities which spark their interests. Children of pre-school age show good control and coordination as they move around the outdoor area. Some children use a painting easel to paint big circular shapes. Other children select and ride tricycles. Young children happily empty and fill containers at the water tray. These activities benefit children's small and large muscles.

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need to do better?

n Staff playfully teach children about numbers through a range of experiences. For example, children riding on tricycles say, 'one, two, three, look at us, I'm driving' as they count themselves and their friends. This demonstrates that children are beginning to understand quantities. This supports children's understanding of early mathematical concepts. n Parents praise the nursery. They like the support which staff offer them and their children. Parents welcome the regular information that they receive about their children's experiences and development. This supports children's next steps in their education.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand what they must do if they are worried about a child's welfare. They know who to speak to if they have concerns about the suitability of other staff members or managers. Staff carry out risk assessments to ensure that the premises are safe and suitable for children. Relevant staff have completed paediatric first-aid training. This ensures that they support children effectively in the event of an accident. The management team makes sure that staff who start working at the nursery without a Disclosure and Barring Service check are never left unsupervised with children.

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Due date

22 September 2022 improve staff's induction to ensure that all staff understand the nursery's policies and procedures 21/11/2022

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Due date

improve staff deployment to ensure that staff engage with all children effectively to increase their enjoyment and extend their learning. 21/11/2022

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should:

n improve consistency in how the environment is planned, so that children can develop their independence and self-help skills, especially during personal care times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY558576 Local authority Barking and Dagenham Inspection number 10213636 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Montessori & Me Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02085994279 Date of previous inspection 6 October 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Montessori & Me Nursery registered in 2018 and is located in Essex. The setting operates for 51 weeks of the year, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. It also provides out-of-school care in the mornings and evenings during term time. There is also a holiday club from 7.30am to 6.30pm during the school holidays. The provider employs 11 members of staff. Of these, eight hold early years qualifications at level 5, 3 or 2. The provider offers funded early education for children aged two and three years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed the ongoing impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager showed the inspector around the nursery and explained how staff support children's learning, engagement and development. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions between the staff and children and assessed the impact of these on children's learning. n The inspector and the manager observed a joint activity. n The manager and providers met with the inspector. Discussions included the arrangements for the recruitment and support of staff, and safeguarding. n The inspector reviewed documents relevant to the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff, parents and children at appropriate times.

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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

22 September 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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