Willows Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Willows Montessori Nursery Ryton Community Centre, Ryton Village, Ryton NE40 3QP

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive at this exciting and welcoming setting. The key-person system allows children to build positive relationships with the kind, nurturing and caring staff. Children show that they feel safe and secure in the staff's care through the cuddles and smiles they offer when they greet the staff who care for them.

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The provision is outstanding

Children demonstrate exceptional levels of independence from a very young age. For instance, toddlers who have only recently started walking show that they are able to make independent choices during snack times. They choose from a delicious range of healthy foods and then walk to a table carefully balancing their plates. Children listen and respond as staff offer gentle reminders to use both hands before putting their plate on to the table and sitting down to join their friends. Once finished, they scrape the leftover food into a nearby bin and place their dish in a tray ready to be washed.

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The provision is outstanding

As children move through each nursery room, they continue to build on this learning and show high levels of self-care skills. Older children help to prepare meals and show a remarkable awareness of the nursery routine. This includes tidying up after play. Children access dustpans and brushes and sweep floors, tuck chairs back under tables and help to wipe down tabletops. This shows that children's learning is superbly sequenced throughout the setting. Staff consistently build on what children know and can already do.

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need to do better?

n The inspiring managers offer tailored support for staff. This includes in-depth, quality training packages, supervision sessions and regular well-being support. They also arrange exciting and fun-filled team-building days to help to motivate and enthuse staff. Managers evaluate the overall quality of the setting with precision. They are extremely knowledgeable and are clear in what they want children to learn. They monitor the highly ambitious and challenging curriculum that helps children to make exceptional progress in all areas of their learning. n The highly qualified staff team are vigilant. They complete meticulous observations and assessments of children's learning. They ignite children's curiosity to learn through being excellent role models. Children remain deeply engaged in their uninterrupted play for long periods of time. They persevere with tasks and challenges. For example, young children spend time twisting and

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need to do better?

turning puzzle pieces to open objects and find out what is hidden inside. Staff offer calming guidance and encourage children to 'have a go' when they encounter challenges. They rejoice and celebrate with children when they succeed. This helps to promote children's self-confidence. n Children demonstrate superb physical skills. They take part in exciting and

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need to do better?

17 November 2022 adventurous activities in the nearby woodland area. Children laugh as they create mudslides and race down them in the rain. Children learn about the importance of physical exercise and its effects on their bodies. They develop an excellent understanding of how to lead a healthy lifestyle. For instance, children help to plant vegetables in the nursery allotment and use their produce to make healthy meals. n Parents offer the highest praise for staff and managers. They comment on the significant progress their children have made since starting at the setting. Parents are invited into the setting for regular parents' evenings and fun open days. Staff share detailed information with parents about their children's learning and how to continue this at home, including through a digital platform. They share accurate assessments and celebrate children's achievements. Parents compliment staff on the smooth transition arrangements between each nursery

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need to do better?

room and on their regular communication. n Staff use signs during song and rhyme time to help to promote children's excellent communication and language skills from a very young age. Children who speak English as an additional language make excellent progress and are supported to settle in quickly. Staff create pictures, visual cues and aids for children to understand what happens next in the nursery routine. Staff use detailed information from parents to reflect children's home life and culture in the setting. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make excellent progress in their learning. Staff work closely with parents and professionals to provide individual, tailored support to help meet children's needs. Leaders ensure that additional funding is used to specifically target any gaps in children's learning. For instance, small groups of children benefit from focused communication and language intervention activities to help them to

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff demonstrate an excellent understanding of safeguarding issues. They complete training and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the impact of trauma and abuse on children. Recent training included staff wearing a virtual reality headset to see the world from a child's point of view and understand the devastating impact of child protection issues. Staff demonstrate an excellent awareness of the setting's procedures and policies, including the whistle-blowing procedure. Managers review the ongoing suitability of staff and provide coaching and mentoring sessions where staff can hold professional discussions in relation to any concerns about children's welfare.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY499522 Local authority Gateshead Inspection number 10261979 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 54 Number of children on roll 100 Name of registered person Willows Montessori Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0191 4131929 Date of previous inspection 30 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Willows Montessori Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery employs 24 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds early years teacher status, one holds qualified teacher status and four have an early years qualification at level 4 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, 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 The managers and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 carried out a joint observation of a group activity with managers. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

17 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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