Summertown Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Summertown Montessori Nursery Summertown Church Hall, Portland Road, OXFORD OX2 7EZ

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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

Staff provide a welcoming environment to children and families. Staff support and give children a good amount of security, which helps them to feel happy and safe. Staff plan and provide activities that reflect the curriculum well, and children play happily. All children concentrate well and are engaged in purposeful learning that supports their development. Children have many opportunities to be creative. Staff skilfully help to maximise children's learning, for instance while children pretend to make cakes with sand. Staff spark their imaginations by talking to them about what they are making, and build on their mathematical development as they count and talk about sizes and shapes.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's imagination and communication well. For example, they engagingly sing songs with the children and together they look and read books. Staff communicate with the children effectively overall. They offer a good ongoing narrative to children as they play, which helps children to hear words in context to help them develop their own understanding. However, at times, some staff do not give children sufficient time to think and respond to questions. Children form good friendships and play cooperatively together. They show they are confident in their surrounding as they talk to visitors. This shows they are self-assured.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff work well together as a team. The newly appointed manager has made significant changes to the nursery to improve the quality of care and education for the children. For example, children now have key learning areas where they can experience all areas of the curriculum. n Staff know the children well and have formed good relationships with them. Staff accurately assess what children know and use this information to plan for what they need to learn next. This helps children to make good progress in their development. n Children benefit from daily opportunities to play outside in a safe and secure garden. Children enjoy playing on the swings, have fun with the balls and pipes and take pleasure exploring in the sand. However, staff do not consider how to extend learning and development fully for those who prefer to spend their time outside. For example, they do not put as much thought and planning into

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need to do better?

outdoor activities as they do for those that take place inside. n Staff support children's health and well-being and ensure children follow good hygiene routines. Children have opportunities to experiment with new foods. For example, at snack time, children bring a selection of different fruits from home which all children are then able to share. This helps them to experience new foods. Staff understand children's allergies well, and these are safely managed. n Staff help children to learn how to treat each other with respect, for example

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need to do better?

21 September 2023 when children say they would like a toy from another child. They talk about how to share and use phrases such as 'sharing is caring'. Staff praise and remind children of the 'golden rules' at the nursery. For instance, they thank children for helping and use effective praise. This helps children to be respectful while learning how to be kind. n Partnerships with parents and other professionals involved in children's welfare are positive. Staff work well with the parents to support their children. They maintain daily exchanges of information to ensure children's needs are met. Parents speak positively about the nursery environment and how caring the staff are towards their children. Staff form partnerships with external agencies to support children and their families as required. n Staff comment that they are happy at the nursery and feel well supported. They explain they have regular opportunities for training and that they benefit from

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need to do better?

regular supervisions which helps them to evaluate what works well and what could be developed further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff maintain a safe, clean and secure environment. They are well deployed to meet the needs of the children, which contributes to keeping children safe. All staff, including the designated safeguarding officer, have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. They understand the signs and indicators that may mean a child is at risk of harm, and they comprehend how to report a concern if needed. Leaders ensure that suitable staff with paediatric first- aid training are on site. Effective safer recruitment procedures are maintained when employing staff, to ensure that all staff working with children are safe and suitable to do so.

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should:

n improve the opportunities for children to think and respond in detail when staff question them n enhance the outdoor environment and activities to ensure those who prefer to play outside are fully supported in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY408460 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10296117 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 12 Name of registered person Montessori North Oxford Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01865311364 Date of previous inspection 4 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Summertown Montessori Nursery registered in 2010 and operates from a church hall in the Summertown area of Oxford. The nursery is run by Montessori North Oxford Limited. It opens on weekdays from 8am until 5.30pm for 45 weeks of the year. The nursery employs four staff, two of whom hold relevant qualifications, including one with early years professional status.

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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 inspector spoke with the director about the leadership and management of the setting. n The manager explained the nursery curriculum during a learning walk with the inspector and carried out a joint observation of a planned small-group activity n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

21 September 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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