Step By Step Montessori - Mill Hill

Inspection of Step By Step Montessori - Mill Hill 2 Belgrave Close, LONDON NW7 3QG

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children enjoy exploring the wide range of resources available to them in safe and secure surroundings. Staff place a strong focus on building children's personal, social and emotional well-being. Children benefit from the trusting and respectful relationships they develop with staff and their friends. Staff support children to behave well. Where children need extra help with regulating their feelings and emotions, staff sensitively help them. Children listen to staff and respond well to them as they learn to wait patiently and take turns with toys and resources.

p.2

The provision is good

The curriculum enables all children to make good progress from their starting points. Staff create activities that spark children's curiosity. Children enjoy role play as they pretend to be dentists. They use a variety of resources to support them to gain a strong understanding of removing plaque when brushing their teeth. Staff recognise how physical play benefits children's understanding of healthy lifestyles and support this area of learning well.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff help to develop children's positive sense of self within the local community and what makes them unique. Staff plan trips and help children to learn about a range of festivals. This helps develop their understanding of what makes them unique and appreciate diversity. Staff find out key words in the languages children speak at home to help children feel secure in their cultural identity.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders have a clear vision of what they want children to learn and achieve during their time in the setting. They plan an ambitious curriculum that supports all children's needs and learning. They recognise the needs of families of children who attend the setting and provide support and guidance. n Parents are very keen to share their views of the setting, care and the progress their children make over time. They say that the leaders and staff 'foster a family environment' and that their children are 'thriving'. Parents comment the team keep them well informed of the daily activities provided and the next steps in their children's learning. Partnership with parents is strong. n Staff support children's mathematical development well. They encourage children to use words associated with size and weight, such as 'big, small, large' and 'heavy'. Staff incorporate counting into everyday activities. For example,

p.2

need to do better?

during snack time, children choose which fruit they would like. Staff ask how many pieces they will have, and children count these out. n Leaders support all staff effectively. They provide regular supervision meetings to discuss their professional development, their work, and any concerns they may have. Staff attend regular staff meetings, and leaders speak to staff daily. Communication is good between staff and leaders. This all ensures that the

p.2

need to do better?

8 November 2024 needs of the children are met. n Staff provide nutritious meals, considering children's dietary needs. They give children tasks to foster responsibility, such as setting tables and tidying up. Outdoors, children use brooms and dustpans to clear leaves, promoting independence and care for their environment. n Children have ample opportunities to be physically active. They have regular access to the outdoor areas, where they run, kick balls, use the climbing equipment and carefully balance on beams. Children excitedly engage in water and sand play and use watering cans and gardening tools to pour, fill and empty containers. This helps to develop children's balance and coordination. n Leaders understand the importance of working in partnership with other professionals for a consistent approach to children's learning, development and safety. They work closely with the early years and inclusion teams to help

p.2

need to do better?

provide targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language development well. They engage children in conversations and provide a narrative while they play. When they are developmentally ready, staff work with the older children to introduce letter sounds and help children recognise objects that start with associated letters. Children listen to stories with great concentration and hear a broad range of vocabulary. However, at times, staff do not plan well enough to encourage the quieter children to share their views, to build their confidence and language even further.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n support staff in consistently encouraging quieter children to share their views, boosting their confidence and further developing their communication skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY440917 Local authority Barnet Inspection number 10367497 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 42 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Step By Step Montessori Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07717514213 Date of previous inspection 11 February 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Step By Step Montessori - Mill Hill registered in 2012 and is located in the London Borough of Barnet. The setting operates each weekday from 8am to 5pm, during term time only. The provider offers the government funded places for childcare. There are eight members of staff. Of these, six staff hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 7. The setting follows the Montessori educational philosophy.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The leader and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The leader and the inspector carried out two joint observation and discussed the quality of teaching and learning. n A sample of the setting's documents was reviewed by the inspector. This included evidence of staff suitability. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

8 November 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6