Great Learners Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Great Learners Montessori Nursery The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St Michael, The Riding, London NW11 8HL

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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 are warmly welcomed into this outstanding nursery. Children and staff form wonderful relationships. Children chatter to each other and the staff and share fantastic conversation skills. Young babies use gestures to communicate their affection, such as reaching out to their key person for a reassuring hug when needed.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. Children consistently demonstrate extremely high levels of engagement and focus across the whole nursery. Staff have very high expectations of children's behaviour. They reinforce excellent manners and act as superb role models for children. Kindness is promoted throughout the nursery. Children demonstrate this virtue in their play and daily interactions. During circle time, children recall a visit to the local charity shop where they donated toys that they no longer needed.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff purposefully plan each activity to develop children's skills and knowledge, alongside appealing to their interests. They ensure they promote curiosity and exploration. For example, a baby is shown how to smell tulips. Staff role model new language and facial expressions relating to this. The baby then places the tulip under the nose of a staff member for her to sniff. Staff swiftly offer the opportunity to paint a tulip and bring a vase of flowers for the baby to look at as she paints.

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need to do better?

n The nursery implements a very clear and well-sequenced curriculum that covers babies through to pre-school age children. Highly qualified staff adapt the curriculum, ensuring this continually meets the needs of the children. This enables all children to achieve and make exceptionally good progress. Staff use their deep knowledge of the children to provide suitable activities to support them. For example, at snack time, children are given broken crackers and are challenged to take the right pieces to make a whole one. Children demonstrate fantastic problem-solving skills and persistence. n Babies experience a highly positive settling-in process. Staff receive all the relevant information before the child starts and ensure that they consider each child as unique. They implement an individual plan to enable a valuable settling- in experience for all children. n Parents and carers speak extremely positively about the care and education their

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need to do better?

children receive. Parents praise the caring and 'lovely' staff team. They comment on how much their children learn at nursery. They are confident that their children are very well prepared for school. n Support for children who speak English as an additional language is exceptional. Staff celebrate each child's and family's individuality, actively promoting a culture

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need to do better?

25 April 2023 of inclusivity and diversity. For example, a parent visits the nursery to share how their family has recently celebrated Eid al-Fitr. Staff and children listen in awe to the story and details of the festival. Afterwards, children individually thank the child and his parent for sharing this with them. Children continue to talk about this together in their free play. n Children's personal development is excellent. They play cooperatively together and show high level of respect for each other. All pre-school children tidy up independently when they have finished playing with an activity. They are confident to select new activities of their choice, and the classroom is well organised to support this. All children are exceptionally independent. Young babies toddle over to retrieve their own coats at garden time. One baby brings a coat over to his peer when he sees it is left behind. n Staff feel valued by the manager and comment on her highly approachable

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need to do better?

nature. The manager meets regularly with staff individually and as a team. The manager targets staff's professional development, helping them to build their skills and knowledge to the highest level. The managers are inspirational and fully dedicated to supporting their staff team to deliver exceptionally high-quality learning experiences and care. The staff team works highly effectively together. This helps to provide a first-class learning environment for the children. n Staff swiftly identify any children who require additional support and embed strategies to help children catch up. Where necessary, the manager acts quickly to seek support from other professionals. This ensures that all children achieve the best possible outcomes.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff have secure safeguarding knowledge. The manager regularly checks staff's knowledge and understanding, which ensures that staff are confident to follow the policies and procedures to keep children safe. Daily risk assessments check that the premises are secure and free from hazards. The designated safeguarding lead has excellent knowledge of a range of safeguarding issues and is confident to lead her staff. There is a robust recruitment system, as well as monitoring of the ongoing suitability of the staff team. Staff deploy themselves effectively throughout the nursery to ensure children are well supervised.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY360232 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10280173 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 63 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Budding Learners Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 020 84558511 Date of previous inspection 11 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Great Learners Montessori Nursery registered in 2007. It is situated in Golders Green, in the London Borough of Barnet. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm and operates all year. The provider receives funding to offer free early education for three- and four-year-old children. The nursery employs 12 members of staff. Of these, 10 hold relevant early years qualifications, ranging from level 3 to level 4. The nursery follows the Montessori educational philosophy.

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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 and the inspector carried out a learning walk and discussed the early years curriculum. n Parents shared their views with the inspector and these were taken into account. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual and the manager about the leadership and management of the nursery.

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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

25 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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