Eco Montessori Limited

Inspection of Eco Montessori Limited Surrenden Cottages, Norman Court, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 1NH

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Staff are thoroughly welcoming and caring towards children. They understand the children's next steps in learning and recognise those who may need extra help. Although children settle well and generally enjoy their time at the nursery, the quality of teaching is not consistently good. Some staff do not recognise what they want children to learn, or provide consistently good support to help children make the best possible progress. While the new manager has identified these weaknesses, her drive for improvement is still in its early stages.

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The provision requires improvement

Nevertheless, staff provide some focused activities that support children well. For example, they provide activities for toddlers to support their understanding of taking turns. Staff support children's hand-eye coordination and early counting skills. Staff model suitable behaviours to children. They implement appropriate behaviour expectations and help children to develop their awareness of these.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, staff provide appropriate support for children's communication and language development. This was seen during the inspection as staff chatted with pre-school children while they pretended to make food and take care of imaginary animals. Staff working with babies and toddlers sing songs and rhymes and use simple sign language.

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need to do better?

n Overall, leaders and the new manager recognise where improvements are needed. They have designed development plans and are in the process of building on these further. The manager has identified some future training for staff to help improve teaching and support for children's learning. However, the current monitoring processes are not yet robust enough to ensure that less- confident staff are fully supported to raise the quality of their practice to a consistently good level. n Overall, staff provide a good range of activities and resources. However, some staff do not understand how to support children's learning or have a good enough understanding of the curriculum. Therefore, support for children's development and progress is variable. For example, some staff do not consistently talk with young children as they play, or extend discussions with older children. Consequently, children do not always receive the best possible

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need to do better?

support during activities. n Children enjoy their time at the nursery and engage in play and planned activities. For example, younger children who attend the holiday club enjoy digging 'rivers' and making 'dams'. Pre-school children enjoy creating painted butterfly pictures. n Staff support children to build their independence skills. Children learn to set the

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need to do better?

12 August 2024 table for lunch, serve their food, and pour their drinks. Children gain appropriate skills ready for when they start school. n Key staff form positive and caring relationships with children. They acknowledge children's feelings and provide reassurance, such as by offering extra cuddles when needed. Staff support children to develop friendships. They encourage children to work together and make fair choices. For example, pre-school children vote for which book they wish to be read to them. n Staff praise and encourage children. Children develop their confidence effectively. They show a sense of curiosity. For example, toddlers explore sensory materials. During focused activities, pre-school children develop their concentration skills. This was evident when children poured water in and out of small jugs and bowls. n Parents who provided feedback either in person or in writing on the day of the

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need to do better?

inspection complimented the caring staff team. They commented positively about staff support for their children to help them settle on entry and how children happily go to staff on arrival. Parents highlighted that their children enjoy their time at the holiday club and nursery.

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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 monitoring, coaching and support offered to staff to enhance their teaching practice and confidence in their roles and responsibilities n strengthen staff's understanding and implementation of the intentions for children's learning to ensure that consistently good support is provided n raise staff's awareness of supporting children's learning during activities and how to provide consistently good guidance for their play and learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2726969 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10357883 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 72 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person Eco Montessori Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07542110925 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Eco Montessori Limited registered in 2023 after a re-registration process. The nursery is located in the grounds of Norman Court, West Tytherley. It is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, all year round, except for a week at Christmas. The provider also offers holiday care for children aged four to 11 years. The provider accepts funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 11 staff, including the manager, who work directly with the children. Of these, seven hold relevant early years qualifications at level 2 and above. This includes a staff member with qualified teacher status who works during term time.

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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 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 with the manager. n The manager talked about their curriculum and what they want children to learn, and took the inspector on a learning walk. n Meetings and discussions were held with the leadership team, and the inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times during the inspection. 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. n The manager and the inspector carried out joint observations of children's

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Inspection activities

activities indoors and outdoors. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Some discussions were held with parents who were available on the day of the inspection, and some written feedback provided by parents was also reviewed to gain their views.

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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

12 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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