Fountain Of Knowledge Montessori Nursery School

Inspection of Fountain Of Knowledge Montessori Nursery School 2a, Meadway, Bugbrooke, Northampton NN7 3PL

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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 leave their parents with ease and happily enter the nursery. Staff get to know children and their families well, developing secure and trusting relationships. They have created a calm and nurturing environment where children feel relaxed, safe and secure. Staff implement a curriculum that supports children to become confident, independent and motivated learners. They plan a learning environment and provide children with practical opportunities to carry out tasks themselves. For example, children recognise when the plants need watering and quickly gather watering cans to water them. Staff support children's personal, social and emotional development well. Children are placed in 'family groups', helping younger children learn from their older peers and teaching older children to show care towards their younger peers. For instance, older children help younger children understand the daily routine as they hold their hands and help them sit down for

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The provision is good

Staff encourage children's good behaviour. They teach children to listen to others, take turns and share resources. Children develop a positive attitude to learning and a clear understanding of what staff expect of them. For example, children learn to cooperate as they work with each other to create a 'building site', using trucks and diggers to move sand. This helps them to develop their friendships and social skills.

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need to do better?

n Overall, staff engage well with children, following their lead and extending children's learning further. For example, children playing with number blocks are encouraged to arrange these in order and count aloud. However, staff do not always extend children's understanding beyond what they already know and can do. This potentially limits the speed at which some children make progress. n Staff generally offer children the support they need to develop independence skills. However, on occasion, staff do things for children that they could do themselves, such as serving their snacks and pouring their drinks. This does not enable children to practise these skills for themselves. n Staff gently nurture babies and successfully meet their care needs. They understand each baby and implement respectful care routines that positively contribute to their emotional well-being. Babies engage with staff and delight in

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need to do better?

exploring the resources available. However, staff do not always carefully plan a curriculum to promote babies' physical development. n Staff support children to develop their communication and language skills. They sing with babies, who clap along and repeat key words from songs. Toddlers eagerly shout out key phrases from books as staff read aloud to them. During play, staff use a wide range of descriptive words to help challenge older children. For example, during an adult-led activity, staff introduce new words, such as

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need to do better?

6 August 2024 'archaeologist' and 'fossils'. They ask children appropriate questions, and children recall what they have previously learned about volcanoes, helping to embed learning. n Staff provide good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language. They understand the variety of ways in which children learn and identify when a different process needs to be adopted. Staff work closely with the children, the parents and other professionals to put in place personalised strategies and achievable targets for children to work towards. n Staff use various ways to promote a healthy lifestyle. They use books, songs and mealtimes to help children understand how to make good food choices. Children learn to keep themselves safe. They know they need to put on sun cream and hats to protect themselves before spending time in the sunshine. Staff discuss

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need to do better?

with children the importance of drinking water to stay hydrated. As a result, children learn the importance of staying healthy. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff keep parents well informed about their children's day and their next steps in learning. They share helpful tips with parents, such as potty training support. Parents say they value the communication and warmth of the staff members. n The nursery has clear processes in place for recruitment, induction, supervision and appraisals. This helps to ensure that the staff team is qualified or working towards a qualification. Staff say that they feel well supported in their roles.

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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 support staff to further extend children's learning n strengthen staff skills in supporting children's independence n develop planning and the support offered to babies to help them further practise their physical skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY501045 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10337227 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 29 Number of children on roll 45

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Name of registered person

Fountain Of Knowledge Montessori Nursery School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01604 832032 Date of previous inspection 22 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Fountain Of Knowledge Montessori Nursery School registered in 2016 and is located in Bugbrooke, Northampton. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, four members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for one week between Christmas and New Year. Sessions are from 7am 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 inspector viewed the nursery and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate 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

6 August 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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