Playhouse Montessori

Inspection of Playhouse Montessori 1a Dunbar Avenue, LONDON SW16 4SB

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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 create a warm, welcoming and stimulating learning environment to help children to feel safe and emotionally secure. Children keenly greet staff as they arrive, find their favourite toys, and settle very quickly. Children are eager to start their busy day, ready to learn. They are confident in social situations. For example, children say to visitors, 'What's your name?' and 'Nice to meet you.'

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The provision is good

Children benefit from meaningful learning, overall. Staff plan experiences based on what children know and can do to help to meet their individual needs. During holiday periods, children of mixed ages play, learn and develop their social skills together. For example, older children look at books with younger children and help them to join puzzle pieces together. Children thoroughly enjoy each other's company and behave well.

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The provision is good

Staff help to develop children's positive sense of self within the local community and what makes them unique. For example, staff plan weekly trips to the library and local parks. They celebrate a range of festivals to help to develop children's understanding of what makes them unique and appreciation of diversity. Staff find out key words in the languages children speak at home to help children to feel secure in their cultural identity.

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need to do better?

n The manager, who is also the provider, has an ambitious vision for providing good-quality, inclusive care and education for all children. She ensures that robust policies and procedures are understood and followed by all staff. Weaknesses are quickly identified, and systems are put in place to help to ensure the safety and security of children. n The manager understands the importance of working in partnership with other professionals for a consistent approach in children's learning, development and safety. For example, the manager works closely with the early years and inclusion teams to help to provide targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The manager identifies what the impact of COVID-19 has had on staff and parents' emotional well-being and children's learning. She has developed her Montessori curriculum intent so that, overall, opportunities are planned to help

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need to do better?

to support children's concentration and attention skills and communication development. Children quickly catch up with their learning and development. They make good progress from when they first start. n Staff welcome recent changes to their workload to help to minimise burdensome paperwork. They confirm that their well-being is supported well by the manager. Staff appreciate regular supervision meetings to help to focus on professional

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need to do better?

27 October 2023 development opportunities, and they value additional support to achieve a childcare qualification. n Parents are very keen to share their views of the nursery, care and the progress their children make over time. They say that the manager and staff 'foster a family environment' and that their children are 'thriving'. Parents welcome a new online system to keep them well informed of the daily activities provided and next steps in their children's learning. Partnership with parents is strong. n Staff have a good understanding of the areas of learning they teach to help to ensure they provide good-quality education for children most of the time. They have a firm and common understanding of the implementation of the curriculum intent to help to build on what children know and can do. This helps to prepare children for the next stages in their learning, overall. However, not all experiences are purposeful or consistently challenging.

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need to do better?

n Staff are good role models and have high expectations for all children. They support children's behaviour well, and when children struggle with their behaviour, staff quickly intervene. Staff help children to recognise the impact that their behaviour has on their friends. n Children are motivated and eager to learn. For example, younger children concentrate as they firmly hold a tiny wooden rod to trace letters in a sand tray. Children show pride as they enthusiastically say 'letter o' and 'It looks like a circle.' Staff praise children for their achievements to help to promote children's self-esteem. However, staff do not always organise the learning environment so that children have opportunities for less interrupted play and fully engage in their learning. n Staff understand the importance of promoting children's communication and language skills and early mathematics. For example, children listen with

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need to do better?

increasing attention and listening skills while staff read them a story to help develop children's love of books and early reading. Children eagerly sort and compare coloured bears to help to promote early mathematical concepts.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a clear understanding of their role in keeping children safe. The manager ensures that staff undertake regular safeguarding training and have up-to-date paediatric first-aid training. Staff know how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. They are aware of the policy for whistle-blowing. The manager understands the procedure to follow if allegations are made against staff. Staff carry out daily safety checks to make sure that the premises is safe for children to play and learn.

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should:

27 October 2023 n review the implementation of the curriculum so that children consistently benefit from meaningful, ambitious and engaging experiences n strengthen the organisation of routines to better support children's engagement so that there are less interruptions in their play and learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY339849 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10313140 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 50 Number of children on roll 48 Name of registered person Playhouse Montessori Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 7642564 Date of previous inspection 12 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Playhouse Montessori registered in 2006. It is located in Norbury, in the London Borough of Croydon. The nursery is open weekdays from 7.45am to 6pm all year round. There are 10 staff working with children. Of these, one member of staff holds a level 6 childcare qualification and six staff hold qualifications at level 3 and level 2. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n Leaders and the inspector completed a learning walk and discussed the organisation of the nursery and the early years curriculum provided. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching throughout the inspection. Joint evaluations of the quality of teaching took place between the manager and the inspector. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector took account of parents' views of the nursery. n A meeting was held with the leadership team to discuss leadership and

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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

27 October 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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