Caterpillars Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Caterpillars Montessori Nursery School APPLETON HALL, WEST GREEN ROAD,HARTLEY WINTNEY, HOOK, HAMPSHIRE RG27 8RE

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

Children happily settle on arrival and are welcomed warmly by staff. Children demonstrate that they feel at ease at the nursery as they access resources independently. Overall, children behave well. Staff mostly implement suitable strategies to support children's positive behaviour. They encourage children to use manners, and they praise children when they share and take turns. Children listen well to the staff and respond to requests made. For instance, they follow instructions to tidy the garden before going back inside. However, mealtimes are not well organised and staff do not consistently reinforce expected behaviours at these times, resulting in some children not following these rules.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff provide a range of activities for the children to enjoy and explore with, which supports their creativity and small physical skills. For example, they explore with water using pipettes and play with dough. Children have opportunities to learn about the world around them. They enjoy regular trips out within the community and benefit from sessions where they hear languages from around the world. Children receive caring interactions from staff. However, at times, the quality of teaching is not consistent to challenge children's learning and help them make the progress they are capable of. Nevertheless, staff provide opportunities for children to learn new language skills through songs, stories, rhymes and sign language.

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need to do better?

n The nursery is clean and well maintained. However, children's health and well- being are not always fully supported due to inconsistencies in practice. For instance, at times, some staff are not deployed effectively when children are eating. Furthermore, they do not emphasise behaviour expectations fully at these times. This results in snack time becoming chaotic. For instance, some children do not always remain seated. They pick up foods from the floor, put these in their mouth and return foods that they have had in their bowls to the communal platter. n The management team works alongside staff to care for the children. Staff comment that they feel supported and are part of a team. Staff have some opportunities for training, mentoring and supervision. However, these are not robust enough for all staff to help target, identify and address improvements that are needed to the quality of teaching. n Staff have a suitable understanding of the areas of learning. They plan and

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need to do better?

provide an environment that allows children to make independent choices. For example, children are supported to find their indoor shoes and hang up their personal belongings when arriving. n There are weaknesses in the quality of education. Although staff interact pleasantly with children and talk to them as they play, the quality of teaching is

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need to do better?

4 February 2025 variable. At times, children benefit from staff who are engaging and supportive. For example, staff are seen to motivate children to use magnets to explore which objects are attracted to the magnet and which are not. This supports their curiosity. However, not all teaching is ambitious and, at times, has little structure, such as group times and one-to-one activities, where staff ask questions, but answer these before giving the children time to respond. As a result, not all children have the opportunities to build on what they have already learned. n Children are beginning to understand the routines in the nursery. They learn how to manage their personal care needs. For example, after using the toilet and before eating, children understand they need to wash their hands. This supports children's self-care skills. Children have plenty of opportunities to be physical. They take part in risky play outside as they investigate and balance on

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need to do better?

beams together, ride scooters and play on ride-on cars. n Parents speak positively about the nursery and comment how happy they and their children are. They explain that the communication from staff is effective in helping them to know how their children have been and the development they are making. Partnerships with other professionals involved in children's care and education are positive.

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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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Due date

improve staff deployment to support children effectively at snack times and promote their well-being 25/02/2025

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Due date

ensure effective supervision is in place to provide staff with support, coaching and training to target weaknesses in their practice and improve the quality of teaching. 25/02/2025

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should:

4 February 2025 n strengthen the implementation of the curriculum to focus more closely on the intended learning aims of activities to build effectively on what children know and can do.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110247 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10380319 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 40 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person Caterpillars Montessori Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01252 844706 Date of previous inspection 5 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Caterpillars Montessori Nursery School registered in 1996. It is located in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire. The nursery is open each weekday during school term times. It offers morning and afternoon sessions between the hours of 9am and 3.30pm and extended days with an 8am start up to a 6pm collection. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four. Five staff work with the children. One holds qualified teacher status and four hold relevant qualifications from a level 3 to a level 4. The nursery follows the Montessori philosophy of teaching.

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Inspection activities

n The manager explained the nursery curriculum during a learning walk with the inspector. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation of an activity together and discussed the quality of teaching and learning afterwards. n The inspector observed activities in the main base room and garden and spoke to staff about the progress individual children are making and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including the arrangements for paediatric first-aid training. The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children. n Children spoke to the inspector about the activities they took part in. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

4 February 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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