Star Child Montessori Day Nursery

Inspection of Star Child Montessori Day Nursery Wiltshire Road Hall, Wiltshire Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 7QN

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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 make good progress in this well-organised, stimulating nursery. From the start, staff take care to ensure that children settle well and build strong relationships with them. They value each child highly and ensure that the settling- in process reflects the needs of each child. Children feel secure and happy in the nursery. Staff create a book of photos of each child's family, and this helps children to feel a strong sense of belonging to the nursery. They manage children's behaviour effectively. Staff have high expectations of children, who behave well.

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The provision is good

The curriculum is broad and balanced and links well to children's interests and skills. Staff help children to understand feelings. For instance, they have daily discussions with children and use visual resources to teach them the names of different emotions. Children have a good awareness of feelings. Staff teach children good mathematical skills. They teach children how to grade objects according to size and children sort objects into colour groups. Staff incorporate counting into play activities. For instance, they teach children to count bricks as they make towers. Staff support children's physical development well. They support children to climb onto low tree branches in the garden and children balance skilfully across tyres and planks. Younger children crawl through tunnels and practise their walking skills by pushing wheeled toys.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's creative skills effectively. Younger children enjoy exploring a variety of different textures and materials, such as flour, cereal, oats and leaves. Older children enjoy making pretend pizza from play dough and use real vegetables as toppings. They make collages by cutting and sticking paper onto card. n Children gain good communication, language and literacy skills. Staff read stories to children in lively tones and encourage them to join in with repetitive phrases. They teach them new words from stories and sing action songs and rhymes to support their language skills further. n Children learn to do things for themselves, such as putting on their coats and shoes. Children serve themselves from communal bowls at lunchtime, and younger children learn to feed themselves. Staff teach children to share and take turns, for instance by playing organised group games. n Staff have good links with parents and provide daily updates on children's

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need to do better?

progress. They use a variety of communication methods to share this progress, including secure electronic messaging and regular verbal feedback. Staff encourage parents to cook at home with their children as a way to support children's learning. n Leaders support and monitor staff well. They meet with staff individually to

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need to do better?

11 October 2024 review work and offer assistance, where needed. Leaders identify training needs and offer opportunities for staff to attend courses. For instance, staff attended a course on how to handle children's challenging behaviour, which led to improved outcomes in this area. n Leaders review all aspects of the nursery and set goals for improvement. For example, they plan to continue to enhance support for children who are behind in their communication skills. n Staff promote children's awareness of good oral hygiene successfully. They read stories and carry out creative activities to help children's understanding in this area. Staff assist children to brush their teeth after eating, and a dentist visits the nursery regularly. This approach helps children to develop good awareness in this area. n Children develop a good understanding of the world. Staff and children observe spiders in the garden. Staff then take the children on a walk to identify further

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need to do better?

insects. They plant seeds with children and teach them how things grow. Staff discuss concepts such as the days of the week, the weather and the seasons with children to extend their skills further. n Staff interact warmly with children and engage in their activities. However, at times, staff do not plan sufficient opportunities to enhance children's thinking skills, such as during imaginative play. n Leaders ensure that children have freshly prepared, nutritious and appetising meals and snacks. However, staff do not consistently plan well enough to develop children's understanding of the value of eating well.

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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 plan more effectively to enhance children's thinking skills, such as by using effective questioning n support and extend children's understanding of the value of eating well.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY385314 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10355057 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 108 Number of children on roll 76 Name of registered person Star Child Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02086896532 Date of previous inspection 15 November 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Star Child Montessori Day Nursery registered in 2004. It is located in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, all year round, except on public bank holidays. There are 18 staff, including the manager, 16 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. Of these, three staff hold a degree in early years education. The nursery offers government-funded places for childcare. The nursery uses the Montessori ethos in early years education blended with learning through play.

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Inspection activities

n During the inspection, the inspector went on a learning walk around the nursery with the provider to discuss the aims of the curriculum. n The provider and inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children and spoke with children when appropriate. n During the inspection, the inspector held a meeting with the provider and sampled some documentation. n The inspector considered the views of staff and parents during the inspection.

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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 October 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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