Montessori at Brook Green

Inspection of Montessori at Brook Green St Matthews Church Hall, St Matthews Church, Masbro Road, London W14 0LL

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children have excellent and very close relationships with staff and each other in this nurturing nursery. Staff pay a great deal of attention to children's individual needs. For instance, they greet each child in their home language when they arrive at the nursery. Parents' comments state that staff have a genuine care and enthusiasm for children. Staff ensure that activities are meticulously planned to meet the individual needs of children. They have high expectations of children and value each child greatly.

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The provision is outstanding

The curriculum is comprehensive and enriching and linked very effectively to children's interests. All children make excellent progress. They are deeply absorbed and thoroughly excited in their play. For example, children take on different roles and work in great cooperation in the mud kitchen to prepare 'Spider Soup' for staff from sticks, mud and water. Without any adult support, children initiate a game, assign roles and work with each other highly successfully and independently. They have excellent physical skills, which they learn through a dynamic range of activities. For instance, they learn to hop, skip and jump as they dance and sing along to action rhymes and songs, where they pretend to be pirates and pilots. Children behave in very positive ways. They say 'please' and 'thank you', unprompted by adults. Older children act as role models for good behaviour for younger ones and remind them of positive ways to behave. They take turns and

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need to do better?

n Children have exceptional mathematical skills. For instance, some children are able to create their own complex repeating patterns as they take part in an innovative creative activity. Children have excellent counting skills, and older children are able to add and subtract. n Children are highly articulate and have excellent literacy skills. Staff read a rich and varied range of books to children. Children are very involved in stories through the innovative use of story props. Staff teach children ambitious vocabulary, using words such as 'enormous'. Some children are able to read simple words. Staff sing action rhymes and songs, which support all children, including younger ones, to learn new words. n Staff teach children about difference very effectively. They give children interesting objects from different countries to explore and teach them about cultural traditions. Parents come in to the nursery to make Bulgarian bracelets

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need to do better?

with children. Staff explore and celebrate a diverse range of special holy festivals with children. n Children have exceptional independence skills. For instance, they set tables, spread paste on bread and cut up fruit at snack time. At the end of play

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need to do better?

6 June 2023 sessions, children work in pairs to roll up and put away play mats. n Children gain excellent understanding of the world. Staff support children's understanding of how things grow exceptionally well. They read stories about vegetable growth, and children plant and grow vegetables in the garden. Staff respond to children's deep curiosity about flowers as they closely observe them, and staff teach children about the different parts and functions of a flower. Staff develop children's problem-solving skills in excellent ways. For example, they ask children what they need to do if flowers are too tall for a vase. n Children develop excellent understanding about eating healthily and good oral hygiene. For instance, staff provide toy tooth cleaning sets for children to practise toothbrushing. They read stories to deepen their understanding of how to keep teeth and gums healthy. n Staff work with parents very successfully. They enhance children's learning well

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need to do better?

by engaging parents fully in the curriculum. For instance, staff provide parents with links to songs about toothbrushing to sing with their children at home. They give them regular updates on children's progress in highly effective ways. Staff have excellent partnerships with other professionals involved in a child's life, such as speech and language therapists. They work closely with them to provide comprehensive plans to meet children's needs precisely. n The manager has exceptional insight into the quality of teaching and learning in the nursery. She is fully involved in care and learning and spends a lot of time in the group room. The manager observes staff and provides comprehensive feedback on their work to promote best outcomes for children. She provides robust and regular supervision of staff, who feel exceptionally well supported in their roles. They have excellent opportunities to improve their skills and

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need to do better?

knowledge. For instance, they attend a wide range of courses, including a course on mental health for children under five years, which led to greater awareness in this area. n The manager reflects deeply on her provision and sets ambitious goals to build ongoing improvements. For instance, she plans to enhance the outdoor area to enhance children's learning further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are robust about children's safety. Staff follow comprehensive health and safety procedures and carry out risk assessments to reduce the risk of hazards. The manager has a thorough recruitment process, which includes carrying out a series of background checks to ensure that staff are suitable for their roles. Staff have an excellent understanding of signs that may indicate child abuse, including the impact of a child witnessing domestic abuse. They are fully aware of the procedures to follow to report their concerns to protect children from harm. Staff keep their safeguarding skills and knowledge up to date by attending regular training.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY377317 Local authority Hammersmith & Fulham Inspection number 10288846 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 20 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Alway, Jane

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reference number

Telephone number 07803984639 Date of previous inspection 2 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Montessori at Brook Green registered in 2008. The nursery is located in West Kensington, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 12.15pm and 12.15pm to 2.45pm, during term-time only and is closed on public bank holidays. There are five staff, including the manager. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications. This includes the manager who holds a level 7 Master's degree in early years education. The nursery accepts funding for free early years education for children aged three and four years. It provides a Montessori approach to early education combined with learning through play.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n During the inspection, the inspector went on a learning walk around the nursery with the manager. n The inspector observed the interaction between staff and children and spoke with children, when appropriate. n During the inspection, the inspector considered the views of staff and parents. n The inspector held a discussion with the manager and sampled some documentation.

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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

6 June 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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