Buttercup Montessori Kindergarten Ltd

Inspection of Buttercup Montessori Kindergarten Ltd 125 Watchouse Road, CHELMSFORD CM2 8NG

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are warmly greeted by familiar adults as they arrive at the setting. Babies benefit from a calm and relaxed atmosphere that has a positive impact on them. Children build strong bonds with staff who interact well with them as they play and explore. For example, they help babies practise using their large muscles as they learn to crawl up the soft-play arch. Older children develop friendships with their peers and play cooperatively together. Children are confident. They are eager to introduce themselves and their friends to visitors and tell them their names and what they have been doing.

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The provision is good

Children are learning to be independent. They learn the importance of good hygiene practices such as washing their hands at appropriate times. This helps to protect children's good health. Staff encourage children to put on their own coats and shoes, offering extra support where needed. For example, when children struggle to put on their shoes, staff are patient and give them ideas about how to make it easier. Staff offer praise and encouragement until children manage to complete the task. This helps them to learn to persevere when they face difficulties, developing their self-esteem and resilience.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff have a clear vision to provide high-quality care and education for all children. Leaders successfully share the planned curriculum with all staff. They have monthly themes and use these to build on children's prior knowledge. However, the curriculum does not always take into consideration children's emerging interests during independent play, to build their learning over time. For example, children show a strong interest in role play but have limited opportunities to pursue this. n Children behave well and respond to the rules and boundaries of the setting. They are given notice of how much time they have left until they move to the next activity. This helps children to bring their play to a satisfactory end and are prepared for what comes next. Staff help children to learn the importance of keeping their environment safe. For example, when children spill water on the floor during an activity, staff are on hand to help them understand the risk this

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need to do better?

may pose. Children keenly help to clean this up. This helps children to learn how to keep themselves safe. n Children's communication and language are supported well. Staff role model and extend children's language effectively. For example, when toddlers use single words, staff repeat these back, adding additional words to the sentence. Babies benefit from back-and-forth interactions and copy sounds from staff. For example, babies babble to staff and staff repeat their sounds back, encouraging them to have a turn. Older children are confident talkers and are starting to

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need to do better?

11 April 2023 recognise the sounds that letters make. n Children are keen to join in with the variety of activities provided. They join in with a colour-mixing activity using foam and paint. Staff talk to them about the colours they see and explain that the blue represents the sea. Children confidently explain that 'whales' live in the sea. Other children explore plastic insects with magnifying glasses. However, at times, staff do not adapt their teaching to help children to sustain their interest and motivation to learn. For example, when children change the direction of the activity and use the pots to make pretend ice creams, staff continue to focus on the plastic insects. This results in children losing focus and leaving the activity. n Children enjoy their time in the garden. They spend time transporting water from the water tray to the mud kitchen, where they fill and empty bottles. Other children take some water and brushes to mark make on the chalkboard.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are positive. Parents are happy with the progress that their children make and value the regular feedback they receive through the online app. They are given regular updates about their children's achievements and ideas on how to continue this learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff have a good understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe. They confidently identify signs and symptoms that may indicate that a child is at risk of harm or abuse. They are knowledgeable about the wider safeguarding concerns that may have an impact on children's lives, such as female genital mutilation and domestic abuse. Staff are aware of who to contact should they have concerns regarding a child's welfare. They are aware of the whistle-blowing procedure and how to report allegations made against a member of staff. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that those working with children are suitable to do so.

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should:

n ensure the curriculum builds on children's individual emerging interests n develop staff's teaching further to help children to sustain their concentration and motivation in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY434861 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10280225 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 66 Number of children on roll 122 Name of registered person Buttercup Montessori Kindergarten Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01245 474 280 Date of previous inspection 7 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Buttercup Montessori Kindergarten Ltd registered in 2001. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am 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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several 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

11 April 2023 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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