The Bristol Montessori School

Inspection of The Bristol Montessori School 70 Parrys Lane, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1AQ

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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

Staff provide children with a warm welcome into the carefully planned and resourced environment. Children quickly learn the structured routine and behavioural expectations of the Montessori approach that staff follow. Children understand the ground rules and classroom etiquette. They follow staff's instructions, line up, sit patiently, take turns and are impeccably well behaved.

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The provision is good

Children make good progress in their learning from their individual starting points. Staff implement a varied curriculum that provides many rich play and learning experiences, indoors and outdoors. Children gain great independence from a young age. For example, children, including two-year-old children, find their name to register their attendance and choose where they wish to play. They remove and hang up their coats, peg their outdoor shoes together, learn to do fastenings and choose activities that they want to do. Children move freely between the four classrooms that are based over two floors, negotiating the stairs confidently and safely.

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The provision is good

Children acquire many skills to prepare them for school. Staff in the 'practical life' classroom present children with many opportunities to develop self-care skills. Children learn to use cutlery safely, pour, cut with scissors, sweep and carry out tasks, such as washing up after snack. Children practise their developing early writing skills and develop confident mathematical skills. For example, they draw with control and many form letters. Staff teach children of all ages to recognise numerals, put numbers in sequence and complete simple calculations. Children enjoy planned art activities. For example, they develop their hand muscles and coordination as they draw up paint into pipettes. They recognise colours and learn to mix them to create more. They squirt paint onto wadding material and staff talk about how clouds hold water, increasing their understanding of the world.

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need to do better?

n The managers are passionate about their provision. They foster team working, and staff receive good support to develop their skills. For example, staff use research material that is provided to assist their delivery of the curriculum. n The management team and staff are Montessori trained and implement Montessori teaching methods. They have clear expectations of what the provision should look like. They create a harmonious and peaceful environment, where children learn to work quietly and not to interrupt other children's work. The planned curriculum places a heavy focus on developing children's independence, numeracy, early reading and writing skills. Children develop impressive levels of independence. When staff interact one to one with children, they challenge children to think and share ideas.

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need to do better?

13 January 2025 n Staff plan group activities, such as 'bucket time', and intervention sessions to help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who find verbal communication more difficult. They use sign language and picture cards. Many staff are bilingual and staff use words in children's home languages to aid children's understanding. However, staff do not actively encourage and engage children in conversations to enhance their language skills. For example, at times, staff fail to respond to children wishing to speak and participate more fully in group activities. A musician visits each week and staff report that they children enjoy singing, but it is not evident that staff make the very best use of singing, rhyme and stories at other times to enhance children's language development further. n Staff and children reflect a diverse community. Staff ensure that children's

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need to do better?

individual uniqueness is valued. They increase children's awareness of different cultures and diversity. For example, staff teach children about countries and traditions. Children learn where countries are on a map, and to recognise countries' flags and landmarks. Cultural festivals that are relevant to the children are celebrated. n Children enjoy fresh air and exercise. They develop coordination, balance and agility as they travel across a row of stepping stones of differing heights then jump off safely. They engage in gardening activities and regularly go to forest areas where staff encourage them to explore and investigate the natural environments. n Parents speak positively about the provision and staff. Key persons provide regular verbal feedback about children's progress. They use an app to share photographs of children's activities and day-to-day information. Family events, such as a picnic and Christmas celebrations, allow parents, staff and children to

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need to do better?

come together. Parents drop off and collect their children at the door. They report that they rarely go into the nursery to gain first-hand insight into their children's play, learning and social interactions, and would like more opportunities to do this.

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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 give greater focus to extending children's communication and language development, and make more use of stories, songs and rhymes n provide parents with more regular first-hand experiences to gain an insight into

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should:

13 January 2025 their children's play, learning and social interactions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY310081 Local authority Bristol City of Inspection number 10377713 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 52 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Montessori Services Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0117 9686960 Date of previous inspection 10 September 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The Bristol Montessori School reregistered in 2019. The nursery is situated in the residential area of Stoke Bishop in Bristol and operates from both floors of a converted property. It is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm for 50 weeks of the year. It offers government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children. The owner/manager holds early years teacher status. She employs 12 staff, including a cook and lunchtime assistant. There are 10 core members of staff, seven of whom hold Montessori qualifications at levels 6, 4 and 3. The nursery operates according to the Montessori principles.

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Inspection activities

n The owner/manager completed a learning walk with the inspector. They had a tour of all areas of the provision and discussed the early years curriculum and Montessori approach. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children. n Staff and children were spoken to at appropriate times during the inspection. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a joint observation of a planned group activity. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to the management team about the leadership and management of the setting.

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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

13 January 2025 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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