Blue Skies Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Blue Skies Montessori Nursery Frankton Road, Whitefield, Manchester M45 7FB

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children arrive excited to start their day and quickly become engaged in planned, purposeful play. Children participate in all routines of the day and show a high level of involvement. Children settle exceptionally well. They form trusting bonds with their key person, who is incredibly knowledgeable about their individual developmental needs. Learning is personalised to help children to make good progress. Staff continually strive to help children to 'achieve their true potential'. Children are highly cooperative towards one another. They listen exceptionally well to instructions from staff and their peers. Staff give children a choice about what they would like to do. This fosters children's independence in their play. Children contentedly select what they would like to play with from well-planned resources.

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The provision is good

Staff keep the environment well organised for children. Therefore, children learn to take pride and respect in their surroundings, helping to keep it tidy. Staff are excellent role models for children. They take the time to talk to children individually, which promotes a positive learning atmosphere. Children develop ways to self-regulate their behaviour exceptionally. They demonstrate high levels of self- control throughout the day. Children behave beautifully, sharing and cooperating with their friends. Children show excellent attitudes towards learning about the world in which they live. They try hard in all aspects of the day which helps them to master skills for the future. These include, holding a pencil, recognising letter sounds and developing confidence to carry out self-care tasks independently.

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need to do better?

n The long-standing staff team tailors learning for children well. Staff encourage children to always try hard and concentrate on more challenging tasks, while incorporating their interests. For example, staff create a counting game using a truck and boxes. This helps children to develop their mathematical knowledge and concept of numbers and quantity. Children are highly motivated in their learning and eager to join in. n Staff are focused on developing children's love of books and literacy skills, because they too love reading. The setting has a vast range of books to support learning. Children practise their recall of events in the story and have discussions about characters. They access non-fiction texts and research facts together with staff. This helps them to make sense of new experiences. Staff carefully select core stories that help children to embed useful literacy skills and develop their

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need to do better?

knowledge of reading in preparation for school. n Children learn about the wider world. Staff and children share photographs from their holidays and learn about other countries they have visited. Staff use their interest in travel and exploring different cultures, which enthuses children's curiosity about lives different to their own. Children use and share their home

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need to do better?

16 June 2023 languages with their peers. Staff organise special events that are personalised for families, such as for St David's Day. Children and parents beam with pride, knowing their identity and heritage is recognised and respected. n Children's previous experiences and learning are considered as part of curriculum planning. Staff support children's role play and imagination skills very well. For example, children work together to make 'soup'. They cooperatively pass each other the bowls and discuss the ingredients. Children play harmoniously together in the home corner. They practise and develop their language and communication skills to good levels. n Staff are proactive in continuously developing their own knowledge. They access training and research new ways to enhance the quality of their teaching. For example, staff recently accessed training on self-regulation. This has helped them to engage better with children and understand the needs behind their

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need to do better?

emotions. Consequently, children show high levels of confidence in social situations and express themselves incredibly well. n Staff provide opportunities for children to practise gripping, pinching and squeezing with their fingers. This helps develop the small muscles in their hands. Consequently, children develop their expressive drawing and early writing skills very well. In the garden, children learn balance and coordination skills as they use bicycles and scooters. They run and move their bodies as they push dolls and teddy bears around in prams. However, staff do not always effectively sequence the curriculum for children to engage in more challenging physical skills. Consequently, children do not always develop their large muscles and core strength.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are knowledgeable about safeguarding issues that could impact children's welfare. They are confident in the procedures to follow if an allegation is made about a colleague or if they have concerns about a child. Staff extend their vigilance beyond the children in their care. Staff can recognise and understand that changes in children's behaviour could indicate a safeguarding concern. The provider carries out appropriate risk assessments. She ensures that the environment is well maintained and free from hazards. Staff practise emergency evacuations with children to help them to feel confident and know how to behave in case of an emergency.

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should:

n strengthen the curriculum for physical development, to enable children to develop their large-muscle skills and core strength.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY367125 Local authority Bury Inspection number 10285926 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 34 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person Blue Skies Montessori Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01617 678100 Date of previous inspection 24 October 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Blue Skies Montessori Nursery registered in 2008 and is situated in Whitefield, Manchester. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are four members of staff, including the owner. Two members of staff have early years professional status and one member of staff holds a qualification at level 3. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the early education of two-, three- and four-year-old children. It follows the Montessori approach to early years education.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first 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 nominated individual led the inspector on a learning walk and explained how the curriculum is planned. n Discussions were held with staff, parents and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector observed practice and evaluated the quality of activities, together with the nominated individual. n The inspector looked at documents, including staff qualifications, paediatric first- aid certificates and evidence to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector tracked the experiences of children to determine the progress they make. n The inspector held meetings with the nominated individual to discuss their evaluation of the provision.

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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

16 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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