Quintrell Downs Montessori School

Inspection of Quintrell Downs Montessori School Quintrell Downs Villlage Hall, North Way, Quintrell Downs, Newquay TR8 4LA

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children arrive excitedly and leave their parents at the door with ease. They form secure bonds with staff, who place the children at the centre of everything they do. Children invite staff to join in with their play. They use their imaginations as they make 'tea' with the role-play food. Staff name the items and show genuine interest as they pretend to 'eat' the food they make. These respectful and nurturing relationships help children to feel safe and secure.

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The provision is good

The well-designed curriculum is effective. It helps children to make progress and to develop a wide range of skills in readiness for school, and it promotes their personal, social, and emotional development. All children make good progress from their starting points. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those in receipt of additional funding. Staff support children who have gaps in their learning and those adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic effectively.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and are motivated to take part in activities. Staff plan the curriculum with the children's interests at the centre and consider how they can extend each child's learning. Children choose to join the activities supervised by staff. They benefit from staff's enthusiastic, supportive, and reassuring approach.

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need to do better?

n The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is knowledgeable and passionate about her role. She works closely with staff to identify children who may require additional support. The SENCo works closely with external professionals to help children work towards their next steps. This helps to ensure that children with SEND receive the support they need to make good progress. n Staff support children to develop their communication and language by providing engaging activities. For example, they carry out music times with the children, using new words, visual aids, and interaction. However, at times, staff do not always invite quieter children into conversations, to extend opportunities for them to practise their language skills and interact with others. n Staff promote circle times during the day. They provide opportunities for sharing, such as discussion about the weather, what day of the week it is and

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need to do better?

the children's feelings. However, when staff ask children questions, they do not always allow children sufficient time to respond, answering for them. This prevents children from using their thinking skills and learning to problem-solve. n Staff support children's independence skills well. Staff teach children how to tidy away resources when they have finished using them. During snack time, children wash their hands before eating and pour their own drinks. When snack time is

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need to do better?

19 July 2023 over, children take their own plates and cup to wash, showing pride in their achievement. Children are confident in their own abilities and show high levels of self-esteem. n Children are respectful of each other and interact very well together. They successfully seek support from staff when they find activities challenging. They use their manners to thank staff for their help. Children are confident to choose their own activities and resources and move around the indoor and outdoor spaces freely and safely, following their own ideas and the rules of the setting. n Staff support children to understand early mathematical concepts. They achieve this by embedding mathematics into everyday play. For example, children explore the properties of clay, using their hands to create different objects. Staff utilise this opportunity to promote mathematical language, such as 'width' and 'length', into the conversation. Staff compare sizes and shapes of the clay

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need to do better?

objects with children. n The manager supports the staff team well. She ensures that staff continually develop their professional abilities, such as through staff meetings and a wide range of training opportunities. The manager ensures that staff do not have an overwhelming workload. As such, they have quality teaching time with the children. n Staff develop extremely successful relationships with parents. Parents are positive about the regular information they receive about their children's development. Parents have noticed progress in their children's confidence and speech development since starting. They comment that their children have formed loving bonds with staff, who know their children well.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure understanding of their role to safeguard children. They attend regular training to keep their knowledge up to date. Staff are capable of recognising signs and symptoms of abuse to prevent children from being at risk of harm. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) understands the importance of confidential record-keeping, ensuring that children are monitored well. The DSL knows the procedure to contact outside agencies to seek further advice when necessary. The manager has robust recruitment and induction procedures in place to ensure that new staff are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n engage quieter children more frequently into conversations to enable them to practise their language skills n provide children with more time to respond to questions to further develop their

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should:

19 July 2023 critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2660579 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 10303188 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Cornwall Montessori Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01637 872879 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Quintrell Downs Montessori School registered in January 2021 but re-registered in November 2021 after a change in ownership type. It operates from the village hall in Quintrell Downs, Cornwall. The setting operates from 8am to 3pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 8am to 1pm on Tuesday, term time only. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two-, three- and four-years old. There are seven members of staff, of whom five hold a level 3 qualification.

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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 provider. n The manager, deputy and the inspector completed a learning walk of the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager and, together, they evaluated this. 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 A leadership and management meeting was held with the manager and deputy. n The inspector spoke with parents and gained their views of the setting.

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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

19 July 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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