Riverside Nursery Schools – Richmond Montessori

Inspection of Riverside Nursery Schools - Richmond St. Johns Studios 6-9, Church Road, Richmond TW9 2QA

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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

The provider has high aims for all children and ensures that staff plan a curriculum that supports individual children to progress to the next stages in their learning. The team works in partnership with parents and other professionals to plan for and meet the needs of individual children.

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The provision is good

Staff meet children's emotional needs well. Babies enjoy interactions with staff. They pick up toys of their choice and take them to staff to share their play experiences. Toddlers demonstrate a sense of belonging, for example they help to tidy up after play. Older children feel encouraged to express their thoughts, for instance as staff say, 'Thanks for sharing,' to acknowledge their contribution to discussions. Staff teach children to use vocabulary that describes their emotions. Children behave well and show they are happy and settled at the nursery.

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The provision is good

Staff introduce children to songs and rhymes that help them learn new words. They provide opportunities for young children to learn to name pictures and objects. Children who need support with their communication and language skills make good progress from their starting points.

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The provision is good

Staff provide regular opportunities for children to play in the fresh air and to exercise both indoors and outdoors. However, they have not planned ways to enhance the outdoor provision, to provide a wider range of activities, particularly for those children who prefer learning outdoors.

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need to do better?

n Self-evaluation is effective. The provider has taken appropriate steps to address previous breaches of requirements. They have provided training for staff on safeguarding to ensure they understand the referral procedures to follow. Staff understand the setting's policies and procedures in relation to supporting and understanding children's behaviour, including record-keeping. n The provider has started implementing appropriate improvements to the induction and supervision of staff to ensure any weaknesses and training needs are identified and addressed. The provider has reviewed and improved staff deployment to ensure qualified staff are available to work with children. n Staff are skilful in supporting older children to integrate new knowledge. For example, they teach children about the sun and the planets, and introduce vocabulary such as 'orbit' and 'volcano'. To help children deepen their knowledge

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need to do better?

they plan further activities to help them understand the meaning of these words and to explore their learning through art and craft activities. Parents say that their children remember and recall their learning. n Staff promote children's independence during mealtimes and during daily

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need to do better?

27 August 2024 routines. For example, older babies explore the use of cutlery at mealtimes, and toddlers learn to roll a mat and store it away, after use. Older children demonstrate an understanding of routines, such as washing hands with soap and disposing of paper towels in the bin after use. n Staff introduce children to cultural celebrations. They provide opportunities for children to try foods that reflect people's diversity. Overall, children develop a good understanding of the world around them. However, staff do not plan as many opportunities to strengthen children's understanding of the use of technology and how things work. n Staff plan well to support individual children's understanding of shapes, quantities and numbers. Babies explore shapes, for instance as they reach out for and pop bubbles in the garden. Toddlers use vocabulary such as 'big' and 'wide', for instance, while reading a story with staff. Older children demonstrate

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need to do better?

confidence in identifying number symbols and learn to count objects. n Staff teach young children to name colours and provide opportunities for them to explore natural materials, such as sand. Older children show interest in painting and focus well during these activities. n Staff use assessment effectively to identify areas in which individual children need additional support. They work closely with parents to meet individual children's learning needs and to help them catch up with their peers. Children who speak English as an additional language build confidence in learning and using new words. Those who need support with their behaviour learn to understand boundaries. Children make good progress from their starting points.

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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 enhance the outdoor provision, to provide a wider range of activities, particularly for children who learn best outdoors n increase opportunities to help children learn about technology and how things work, to strengthen their understanding of the world.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2776150 Local authority Richmond Upon Thames Inspection number 10362555 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 80 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Riverside Nursery Schools Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 020 3475 0455 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Riverside Nursery Schools - Richmond registered in January 2024. The setting is located in the London Borough of Richmond. It is open Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year, and is closed for one week at Christmas and on bank holidays. The setting employs 15 members of staff. Six staff hold early years qualifications at levels 3 to 6 and three staff hold qualifications at level 2. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three years old.

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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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff, parents and carers at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff. n The inspector held discussions with leaders and managers at appropriate times.

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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

27 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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