Sunflower Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Sunflower Montessori Nursery 9 Palmer Street, Frome BA11 1DS

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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 settle quickly and are confident to explore the environment. Staff get to know the children well, and they overall plan successfully for children's individual learning needs. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have good support from staff, enabling all children to make as much progress as possible.

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The provision is good

The management team has devised an ambitious curriculum, covering all areas of children's development. It identifies the learning targets for each age group, so staff know what they want children to achieve and how to help them get there, before moving them on to their next stage. There is a strong focus on enabling children to experience as many practical skills as possible. For example, toddlers learn to manage scissors, their zips and to take off their boots. Older children use a range of tools and equipment, such as an apple corer and toaster.

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The provision is good

Staff are gentle with the children and respond well to their needs. They treat children with respect and value their opinions. Staff provide good role models, so children are kind and show each other empathy. Children are inquisitive and eager to take part in activities. They quickly learn the nursery routines and understand the staff's expectations.

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need to do better?

n The strong leadership team continually evaluates its practice, seeking parents and staff feedback to identify ways of taking effective action for continuous improvements. For example, staff have had recent training on promoting children's mathematical development through all activities and daily routines to extend this area more effectively. The manager and the deputy manager are supernumerary so that they can focus on supporting new staff, keeping the quality of the teaching consistently high for children. n Staff provide good support for children's language and communication skills. For example, they add vocabulary, read books, sing songs and narrate what children are doing. They use books well with babies and toddlers, helping them to understand the meaning of words. Older children are encouraged to listen to each other and not call out. However, sometimes group times are not planned as well as they could be, so after a while some of the youngest children loose

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need to do better?

interest and become restless. n Children and staff have strong relationships. Staff provide sensitive support for children to learn to manage their behaviour and understand their emotions. Staff praise young children for sharing. Children respond positively to staff's facial expressions, such as smiling and clapping when they succeed. Older children suggest their own golden rules and remind each other of them.

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need to do better?

18 January 2024 n Children show they feel safe and secure. Leaders are quick to notice if a child shows any sign of distress and ensure that they soon feel reassured. For example, when a toddler is reluctant to have their nappy changed, the supervisor asks the child who they would like to have change them. They then happily cooperate. n Staff provide good support for children to be as independent as possible. For example, older children collect food and drink to prepare snack, carry trays of food to give out to their friends and wash up afterwards. Staff enable children to have enough time to practise new skills. Although staff ask children if they need help, they occasionally take over, rather than providing just enough support for children to solve problems for themselves. n Partnerships with parents are a strength of the setting. Parents comment on the good exchange of information. They confirm how well leaders and staff provide

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need to do better?

additional help to ensure that any gaps in children's development soon close. Staff are proactive in contacting other settings that children attend, enabling them to work together consistently to meet children's needs. n Managers and all staff attend extensive safeguarding training. They have a good knowledge of what to be aware of and the procedures to follow to safeguard children, including if they should have concerns about a colleague. Good risk assessments and deployment of staff help to keep children safe. Children have good opportunities to use the local environment, where they learn the importance of keeping themselves safe, such as near roads and water.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n improve the planning of whole-group activities to enable younger children to listen and concentrate more effectively n focus staff development in helping children to persevere when they come across problems.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2659979 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10308775 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Sunflower Childcare Frome Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01373453853 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Sunflower Montessori Nursery registered in 2021. It is one of two privately owned and run nurseries, in Frome, Somerset. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff, including the owner/manager. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 6, six hold an appropriate qualification at level 3 and one holds level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except bank holidays. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 manager, the deputy manager and the inspector discussed the leadership of the setting, and the inspector sampled documentation. n The inspector spoke to staff at convenient times during the inspection and observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during children's free play and discussed the quality of teaching, and the impact this was having on children's development. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector, as well as through a parent survey.

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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

18 January 2024 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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