Cherubs Montessori Day Nursery

Inspection of Cherubs Montessori Day Nursery 5 Castle View Road, Rochester, Kent ME2 3PP

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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

Children of all ages are confident and happy during their time in the inviting nursery. Staff have a secure knowledge of the curriculum and how they implement this successfully. They plan challenging and motivating activities for children and have high expectations of their abilities. For example, children learn about the concept of decimal points during a mathematical activity. Children are keen to join in with the interesting activities that staff carefully plan for them. For instance, children learn about colour and what happens when they mix substances. They are excited to make different coloured lava from their erupting volcano. Babies enjoy washing farm animals and learn new sounds as they go on to listen to, and join in with, animal songs.

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The provision is good

Staff are positive role models. All children behave well and are polite. They show kindness and empathy. For example, they demonstrate an understanding of other children's different personalities and needs and are caring towards each other. Children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. For instance, they talk about healthy food choices. They are excited to grow their own healthy produce, such as runner beans. Children of all ages develop good physical skills and learn to move in different ways. For example, they confidently and safely use age- appropriate climbing and balancing equipment, including rope ladders.

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need to do better?

n All staff know all children well and get to know their unique personalities, needs and abilities. This includes fully understanding the routines of babies. Staff establish secure and trusting relationships with all children. This helps children settle quickly into the setting and they enjoy the positive interactions provided by staff. n Staff support all children to make good progress. This includes those children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For example, staff implement strategies that support children effectively. This includes providing children with a quiet sensory room where children feel safe and calm if they become overwhelmed. n The manager and staff establish positive partnerships with parents, who speak very highly of them. Staff keep them well-involved and informed about their children, what they have been doing and the next steps in their learning. Staff

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need to do better?

encourage parents to share children's learning and experiences from home. Parents praise the staff and their level of communication they receive and are very happy with the nursery. n Children demonstrate a positive attitude towards their learning and overall, they are engaged in their learning experiences. However, staff do not always recognise when they can minimise the wait time between activities and organise

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need to do better?

11 March 2024 the changes between activities more effectively. For example, babies become restless when waiting for their lunch due to a lengthy wait. n Some staff are unaware if their key children attend another setting. This means that they do not communicate with other staff in these settings to help them provide the highest consistency in children's shared care and learning experiences. n The manager closely monitors the quality of care and teaching that children receive. Staff evaluate together as a team. They reflect daily on what they could change to enhance practice next time. Staff have regular individual meetings to discuss their performance and highlight any training needs. The manager and staff use constructive feedback to support their future practice. n All staff attend regular and beneficial training. They have recently learned about the different ways children prefer to play and learn. This has helped staff to

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need to do better?

understand how to support all children to engage in their learning. Therefore, their curriculum plans are effective, and children of all ages make good progress. n The manager and staff ensure the setting is inclusive and diverse. They support children to develop a good understanding of other cultures and languages from around the world. For instance, children learn words such as 'hello' in other languages, including Romanian and Portuguese. n Staff support all children to develop confident communication skills. Older children share their ideas and thoughts with confidence. Babies enjoy listening to songs and happily babble to their friends. All children hear a wide range of vocabulary and engage in meaningful conversations.

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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 provide guidance for staff so they can organise the changes in routine to ensure that all children remain fully engaged throughout n provide staff with all the information they need to have a clearer knowledge about whether their key children attend another setting and establish effective partnerships with the staff there.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY495639 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10317269 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 75 Number of children on roll 115 Name of registered person Walton House Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01634716282 Date of previous inspection 14 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Cherubs Montessori Nursery registered in 2016. It is located in Rochester, Kent. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 7am until 6.50pm, all year round. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The setting employs 29 members of staff, 26 of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 2 and above. This includes 21 staff who have a relevant early years qualification at level 3, one member of staff who has a relevant early years qualification at level 5 and one member of staff who holds a relevant early years qualification at level 6.

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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 ongoing impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager. The inspector assessed the impact of the quality of staff interactions and the learning opportunities they provide children. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n The inspector reviewed written documentation. This included safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n The inspector spoke to the manager, children, parents and staff at convenient times and considered their views. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation on a planned science experiment focusing on supporting children to develop their communication and language skills.

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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

11 March 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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