Ladbroke Square Montessori School

Inspection of Ladbroke Square Montessori School 43 Ladbroke Square, London W11 3ND

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

Staff have a very clear, holistic and child-led approach to how they deliver the curriculum. They place a great emphasis on teaching children to be confident and independent learners. Staff involve children and their parents in their curriculum planning. Staff use children's starting points in development and observations to ensure that children meet their individual milestones and are ready for their next stages in learning.

p.2

The provision is good

The nursery prides itself on ensuring that all children develop a positive attitude towards their learning and feel valued and emotionally secure. Staff support children well by using their interests, passions and curiosity to extend and further encourage their chosen play and learning. Children show respect for each other as they play with, and alongside, their friends. Staff use stories and circle-time activities to teach children about empathy and the importance of kindness. Children engage in acts of kindness, such as as they deliver flowers to their neighbours to celebrate 'kindness day'.

p.2

The provision is good

Children enjoy the wide range of activities on offer to support them to strengthen their small-muscle skills. For example, staff encourage children to use scissors and glue to make collages, thread beads onto string and use large chalks to mark make in the garden. Staff praise children for their efforts and offer them support when they encounter difficulties.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children enjoy the many opportunities to develop their independence. For example, they peel and chop fruits for snack time, pour drinks from small jugs, clear their plates after mealtimes and use tongs to serve themselves food. Staff support children well as they problem solve and practise these new skills. Staff promote a solution-focused approach when children encounter difficulties. For example, they model how shoes look and feel when they are on the correct feet. n Staff take time to talk to children about the variety of fruits and vegetables on offer at snack time and the importance of a healthy balanced diet. They discuss children's likes and dislikes and the names of the different fruits. Staff talk to children about where their food comes from and how different fruits and vegetables grow. Children enjoy being supported by staff to investigate and find out how and where fruits, such as mangos and papayas, grow.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff support children well to develop their understanding of mathematical concepts. For example, staff explain the differences between a circle and a rectangle. They model the physical touch of each shape to support children to understand the term 'corner' when identifying the differences. Staff use everyday opportunities to support children's understanding of number. For

p.2

need to do better?

13 November 2024 example, they encourage children to count and stack numbered towers and count their friends in the line. n Staff support children well in their self-initiated play choices. However, on occasion, during larger group circle times and adult-led group activities, some children struggle to stay engaged for long periods of time and do not access the intended learning. This is because staff do not ensure that these sessions are consistently age-appropriate, timed and paced well. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children sit and wait for their friends to arrive in the morning, line up and help to tidy up and put toys out. Staff take time to listen to children, model manners and use sand timers to support children to understand the concept of turn taking. Children show respect for staff and fully understand what is expected of them at the nursery. n The management team shows passion for continuous improvement and involves

p.2

need to do better?

staff in daily evaluations to reflect on their practice. Staff have opportunities to engage in a range of training opportunities, some of which include training to further support them in identifying and providing early intervention for children who have additional needs. Staff feel supported by the management team and enjoy the 'team spirit' of learning from each other. n Parents are extremely happy with the provision. They have regular meetings to discuss their children's learning and receive parent newsletters. Staff fully support parents with ideas to help at home in managing their children's behaviour and in further supporting their children to be independent. They feel fully involved in their children's learning, and home visits are offered to help with the settling-in process and to ensure children's needs are securely met. Parents are invited in to help and attend parent workshops and celebrations. Parents are

p.3

need to do better?

fully involved in the self-evaluation process and parent representatives meet on a regular basis with the headteacher to feedback and discuss improvements.

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 to plan and deliver adult-led sessions that are consistently age- appropriate, timed and paced, to help all children to fully access the intended learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 105707 Local authority Kensington and Chelsea Inspection number 10364059 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 57

p.4

Name of registered person

Ladbroke Square Montessori School Limited(The)

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 0207 229 0125 Date of previous inspection 23 January 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Ladbroke Square Montessori School registered in 1992 and is located in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The nursery opens during term time, from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. There are 14 staff members employed in the nursery. Of these, three staff hold qualified teacher status, two staff hold qualifications at level 5, seven staff hold qualifications at level 4 and two staff hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery provides government funded childcare. It follows the Montessori educational philosophy.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk to discuss what staff want children to learn. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector carried out general observations of children and staff interacting. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to a range of parents to seek their views on the nursery. n The inspector engaged in a meeting with the management team. n The inspector looked at a range of relevant documents.

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

13 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