Dulwich Oaks Montessori Nursery School

Inspection of Dulwich Oaks Montessori Nursery School St Margaret Clitherow Church Hall, 22 Dulwich Wood Park, London SE19 1HL

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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

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The provision is good

Children are happy and confident in this nurturing environment. The key-person system is effective. Staff know all the children well. Children feel safe and secure, as staff quickly form close bonds with children and their parents. Staff have high expectations of children. They plan an ambitious curriculum with plenty of opportunities for children to engage in creative play and develop their independence skills.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and show curiosity when approaching activities. Staff make purposeful interactions with them as they play to support their communication and language and vocabulary development. For example, children explore a range of sea creatures in the water tray. Staff support them in naming the different creatures and describing their colours and features.

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The provision is good

Staff make effective use of assessments. Staff work closely with external agencies to set targets. Staff speak passionately about the progress children have made since starting nursery and how they are going to prepare them for the next stages of their learning. Individualised learning plans are in place to ensure that all children make progress, including children with English as an additional language (EAL) and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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need to do better?

n There is a strong focus on promoting a love for reading. There are many opportunities throughout the nursery for children to enjoy a wide range of different books that motivate children to read. Staff enthusiastically share stories with children. Staff use stories to introduce children to different letter sounds. Children enjoy finding the different letter sounds for their names. n There are many opportunities to develop children's small-muscle skills. Children use their pincer grasp to add glitter to their pictures and use tweezers to pick out different insects buried underneath leaves. This supports children's next steps in writing. n Children listen to adults and show high levels of respect for each other. Staff place great emphasis on developing children's emotional well-being. For example, during a circle time activity, children use the story of 'The Colour Monster' to talk about how they are feeling. They take turns and share ideas.

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need to do better?

They discuss the impact that different feelings have on their behaviour and the behaviour of others. n Children have many opportunities to develop physically. For example, through forest school, tennis lessons, climbing on logs, swinging on swings and sliding down slides. Staff encourage children to take appropriate risks and challenges as they play. This allows children to be confident and develop their core strength

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need to do better?

8 November 2022 and physical development. n Children enjoy playing imaginatively. For example, they make birthday cakes in the mud kitchen, using mixing bowls and spoons, and create musical ensembles in the musical area, banging drums and clanging symbols n Children enjoy planting and growing a variety of different fruits and vegetables in their garden and are provided with a range of healthy fruits to eat. However, the nursery does not always consider how they can extend children's thinking about the importance of eating healthily in order to support children's learning even further. n There are many opportunities for children to develop their independence. Children help themselves to snack and use forks and spoons at mealtimes. Children understand the importance of good hygiene practices. However, staff do not consistently take opportunities to model these practices to further support children's independence.

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need to do better?

n Parents are extremely happy with the communication they receive from the nursery and say that their children are supported well. They are fully involved in their children's learning and understand their next steps. They are regularly invited into the nursery to share stories and use their skills to run workshops for children. n The manager and her team are highly skilled and have high expectations. There is a clear vision for improvement, focusing on providing many opportunities for staff to develop professionally. There is a strong focus on supporting children's communication and language skills and developing their confidence and independence as they transition on to school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The nursery understands the importance of daily risk assessments to ensure that children are safe in all areas of the provision. The nursery has robust procedures in place for reporting accidents and incidents. Staff recognise the signs of when a child may be at risk of abuse and understand their duty to report on any concern they may have. Staff are aware of how to report an allegation against a member of staff. Safeguarding is discussed regularly, and staff complete regular training to ensure that their knowledge is kept up to date.

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should:

n extend opportunities for children to discuss the importance of healthy eating as part of a healthy lifestyle. n take further opportunities to model hygiene practices to further promote children's independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY448433 Local authority Southwark Inspection number 10235821 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 75 Number of children on roll 89 Name of registered person London and Surrey Montessori Schools Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 761 6555 Date of previous inspection 18 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Dulwich Oaks Montessori Nursery School registered in 2012. It is located within the London Borough of Southwark. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, from 7.45am until 6pm, for 51 weeks per year. There are 25 members of staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status, and 12 hold relevant qualifications from level 3 to level 6. The nursery follows the Montessori philosophy of education. It receives funding to provide free 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager and inspector conducted a learning walk together and discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n Children spoke to/communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to a range of staff and the manager about how the setting meets the needs of all learners to include those with EAL and SEND. n The inspector spoke to a range of staff about safeguarding policies and

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Inspection activities

procedures. n The inspector observed the interactions between the staff and children. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector and manager engaged in a leadership meeting.

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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

8 November 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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