Little People's Montessori

Inspection of Little People's Montessori 84 Victoria Way, LONDON SE7 7NQ

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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 happy and relaxed in this welcoming nursery. They develop strong bonds and secure attachments with the caring staff. Children who are new to the nursery or arrive upset are comforted well by staff and settle quickly. Staff are positive role models and children giggle with delight as they join their play. Purposeful activities are planned to support children in their learning. For example, younger children have fun in the home corner as they take care of the dolls, while older ones work together to organise a racing game. Staff support children to make good progress in their development.

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The provision is good

Children develop their independence as they put on outdoor shoes or boots to go to the garden or slippers when indoors. Children enjoy finding a plate and cup and saucer for snack and mealtimes, and understand to handle them gently as they are breakable. Children relish their time outside and demonstrate good physical dexterity, as they climb and balance on the tree and develop their imaginative play as they organise their own chasing games. Staff teach children to take appropriate risks and challenges as they play, building their confidence and self-esteem. Children behave well and respond excitedly as staff praise their achievements.

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need to do better?

n The manager has devised a broad and balanced curriculum. It builds on children's knowledge over time and is linked to the learning needs and current interests of the children who attend. Staff make regular observations and assessments of children's learning. All children make good progress from their starting points, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and English as an additional language. However, at times, staff are not clear on what it is they want to teach children during the activity and do not always present information clearly to children. Therefore, children do not benefit from a full learning experience. n Overall, staff interact positively with children and lead activities that engage children. Staff know children well and use this knowledge to support them in planning for their next steps in learning. However, at times, as staff join children at their play, they do not consistently engage effectively with children to

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need to do better?

enhance their learning. n Staff place a clear focus on children's communication and language development. They engage children in conversations as they play, model language well and use clear pronunciation and introduce new vocabulary. For example, staff use visual cues and gesture to support language development. Children learn Makaton signs to support them to communicate. Staff encourage children's reading and literacy skills, such as with books, using wooden letters to form words of objects they choose and mark-making materials.

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need to do better?

4 May 2023 n Staff introduce mathematical language into children's play and learning. Children enjoy making paper aeroplanes to fly and check whose paper aeroplane flies the highest. Children count the frogs and talk about which frog made the biggest splash in the pond. n Staff help children to understand about healthy lifestyles. Children eagerly talk about what they have in their lunch box and have fruit at snack, as well plenty of fresh air, as they enjoy their time in the garden. Children's physical skills are promoted well. Children enjoy balancing on stepping stones and excitedly add higher ones to the obstacle course to challenge themselves, before walking along beams to climb the steps to the slide. n Partnership with parents and other professionals caring for children is effective. Parents speak highly of the setting and comment that the staff team are nurturing and approachable, therefore children settle well and build strong

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need to do better?

bonds with them. Good communication ensures that parents know what their children can do and what they will be learning next. n The manager regularly monitors practice and provides support to ensure that all staff clearly understand their roles and responsibilities. Staff contribute to their own supervisions and together they identify areas where further training would help them to increase their knowledge as well as how to improve children's experience within the environment.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding and follow well-established reporting procedures. The manager ensures that staff's safeguarding training is up to date and staff understand the signs and symptoms where children may be at risk. Staff understand the importance of asking questions, reporting and recording safeguarding concerns. All staff understand the procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made about a colleague. The manager ensures that all staff are suitable to work with children, and a robust induction ensures that staff have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. Children learn about road safety during regular trips in the local community.

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should:

n encourage staff to focus more precisely on clearer learning intentions for activities to support what children need to learn next n support staff to engage effectively with children when joining their play to enhance their learning further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY485461 Local authority Greenwich Inspection number 10280366 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Little People's Montessori Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07856211915 Date of previous inspection 14 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little People's Montessori re-registered in 2015. The nursery is located in the London Borough of Greenwich and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, during term time only, offering different sessions. The nursery follows the Montessori philosophy. There are four members of staff working with the children. The manager has early years professional status. Of the remaining staff, two hold a qualification at level 4 and one is qualified at level 3. The nursery offers funding 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 setting. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and inspector completed a joint observation of a focus activity. 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in 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

4 May 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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