St. Peters Montessori School

Inspection of St. Peters Montessori School St Peter's Community and Advice Centre, 1 Marian Place, Off Pritchard's Road, London E2 9AX

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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

The management team and staff provide a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all children. Children arrive eager to see their friends and quickly settle into the day's activities. Children are happy and very settled in this friendly setting. Staff provide an ambitious curriculum, which is based on the early years foundation stage and the Montessori method. Children have access to a broad range of exciting activities and resources.

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The provision is good

Children are free to explore the indoor and outdoor spaces. They engage in activities that interest them. Children confidently use mark-making tools to paint, draw and write. In addition, they enjoy growing flowers and fruits in the setting's outdoor space. Children independently fill and use watering cans to water plants and can identify flowers, such as pansies. Children display high levels of concentration and curiosity towards their learning.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for what children can achieve. They plan learning opportunities to help children to make good progress in all areas of the curriculum. For example, children strengthen their muscles and coordination as they build an obstacle course outdoors. Furthermore, children enjoy taking turns as they walk on a wooden plank. This helps to develop their balancing skills and confidence. Older children are kind to younger children and their peers, and share ideas as they play. Children have meaningful friendships and their behaviour is good.

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need to do better?

n Children build high levels of self-esteem and are motivated to learn. They are curious about new people and keen to investigate new experiences. For example, children confidently talk with authorised visitors about their favourite colours and what they like about the setting. n Staff implement a well-planned curriculum that helps to support children's learning and development. Staff are positive role models for children and show them how to succeed in their self-chosen activities. Staff teach children how to tidy away resources when they have finished using them. Children learn to use different clothing fasteners, such as zips and buttons. These activities help children to learn to dress independently and take responsibility for their own self-care needs. n Staff spend time observing children to identify what they can do and what they need to learn next. They plan learning opportunities to promote older children's

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need to do better?

understanding of early literacy skills. For example, they implement adult-led activities for children to read simple words and phrases. However, at times, staff give children words and phrases that are too challenging for them to read. Consequently, this does not fully support children's learning.

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need to do better?

14 May 2024 n Staff implement daily routines to help children to adopt and learn about healthy lifestyles. For instance, children understand the importance of washing their hands before mealtimes and comment that they are washing the germs off. Children confidently serve their food and pour their drinks. Staff provide children with daily fresh air and exercise to promote their good health. n The management team recognises the importance of professional development. Staff regularly complete relevant training to develop their skills. However, they do not always effectively embed the knowledge they gain into everyday practice to raise their already good standards to an even higher level. For example, on occasion, staff are unsure how to manage children's behaviour when they get excited during their play. This results in high noise levels in the classroom, which mean that some children find it difficult to focus on their chosen activities.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan exciting trips to help children to learn more about their community. For example, children visit parks, libraries and farms and attend concerts. This helps to promote children's social skills and sense of self within the community. n Staff support children well in developing their language and communication skills. They model speech effectively and encourage children to share their ideas and thoughts during play. Staff read books to children using different voices, and children enthusiastically complete sentences in familiar stories. Older children are aware of rhyming words, such as 'ham' and 'Sam'. Children are becoming confident communicators. n Staff work well with parents and regularly share information with them about their children's knowledge and skills. For example, they invite parents to regular meetings to review their children's progress. Parents confirm that their children enjoy attending the setting and make good progress. They highly appreciate the

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need to do better?

excellent support that their children receive from the dedicated and caring staff team.

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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 interest first.

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should:

n support staff to plan activities to the precise level of each child to help them to make the best possible progress in their learning n evaluate the effectiveness of staff training to ensure that the knowledge and understanding that staff gain are fully embedded in everyday practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY469729 Local authority Tower Hamlets Inspection number 10335421 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 24 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Bethnal Green Montessori School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0207 739 4343 Date of previous inspection 14 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

St. Peters Montessori School registered in 2013. It is situated in Bethnal Green, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It implements the Montessori educational approach to learning. The setting opens from 8.45am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. It also opens for an extra four weeks during the summer holidays. The provider employs four members of staff. Of these, the manager holds qualified teacher status and two staff hold Montessori qualifications. The setting 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 setting 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 setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. They discussed how the curriculum is implemented and the impact on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and discussed the findings. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n Children and staff spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff.

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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

14 May 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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