CURIOUSMINDS MONTESSORI LTD

Inspection of CURIOUSMINDS MONTESSORI LTD Vicarage, 1b St. James Road, Purley CR8 2DL

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children enter this vibrant and homely setting with smiles and cuddles for the warm and welcoming staff. Children have formed positive relationships with staff and feel safe and secure. They take time to recognise their name cards and post into the box, proudly showing their friends their accomplishments. They delight in recognising the letters in their name, and this helps to build early literacy skills. Staff recognise these moments and provide praise and encouragement. This allows the children to develop a sense of achievement and pride.

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The provision is good

All children thrive in this inclusive environment. Their individual needs are known and respected by the knowledgeable staff team who put children at the heart of what they do. The indoor and outdoor environments have been adapted to meet the needs of the children attending. Staff are aware that some children live in flats, so they ensure that the children have lots of opportunities to play in the outdoor space. The children skilfully put on wet suits and boots. This supports their physical development and encourages healthy lifestyles as they negotiate the space on the bikes, make mud pies in the outdoor kitchen, balance on the wooden beams and roll balls to one another.

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The provision is good

The setting uses a curriculum founded in the Montessori method of teaching, and staff ensure that children are given the opportunities to access a range of planned and unplanned experiences. Children quickly recall the important facts they have learned this week and delight in discussing the merits of people who help us. Staff work with parents to know what children already know and use this information to build a strong curriculum. They know what they want children to learn and use additional funding appropriately to support children's individual developmental needs, ensuring that all children make progress.

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need to do better?

n Parents report high levels of satisfaction about their child's time at the nursery. They feel that children are treated as individuals and encouraged to develop their own personalities. They also report that they feel supported as parents. They utilise the open-door policy of the manager and feel like respected partners in their children's learning. n Children have developed a love of books and stories. They share books with their friends and eagerly respond to questions when staff tell stories to children in larger groups. They talk about how the character in the story feels or guess what might happen next. Children are exposed to a wide variety of books and texts in a range of languages that are shared by families. Books are placed in all areas to support knowledge and understanding of the world around them. n An ambitious curriculum allows children to develop a love of learning. Children

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need to do better?

21 February 2025 are inquisitive and curious. Generally, staff are clear on what they want children to learn and why. They enhance the environment thoughtfully and delight in learning alongside the children. However, at times, staff do not interact effectively with children to extend their learning or build on their vocabulary. n Staff engage well with children and talk to them about recent experiences, such as a visit from the local fire brigade. Children talk about the emergency services and how they would need to dial '999' to call for an ambulance, the police or a firefighter. Staff extend the children's knowledge, talking about what they know about people who help us, helping them to consolidate their learning. n The support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is good. Staff make timely referrals to ensure that children receive the specialist support they need. All children make good progress in their learning

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need to do better?

and development. They monitor children's progress closely and identify and narrow gaps in a timely manner. Staff work closely with other agencies to ensure that children have appropriate support when it is needed. Staff have a strong network for advice and ideas to support the range of children's needs. n Leaders have a positive attitude towards continuous improvement. They encourage the staff team to be reflective and have autonomy in making changes to the learning environment. Good plans are in place to develop the nursery further, including enhancing the garden area. Staff comment positively on the training that is available to them and say that their well-being is well supported. Staff morale is high. They work well together and support each other. Leaders provide effective supervision and support for all staff. n Children learn to be increasingly independent. Staff encourage them to take responsibility for tasks, such as managing some aspects of their self-care

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need to do better?

independently. For example, children pour their drinks during mealtimes and take some responsibility for tidying up throughout the day. However, at times, staff do things for the children that they could learn to do by themselves, such as serving their own food and putting their coats on. Therefore, children are not always fully encouraged to master independent skills for the future.

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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 develop the consistency of staff engagement and their interactions with children to fully support and extend each child's learning consistently n enhance opportunities for children to develop independence and self-help skills

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should:

21 February 2025 and allow them to do things for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2703112 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10376266 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person CURIOUSMINDS MONTESSORI LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 0207 998 4321 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Curiousminds Montessori LTD is based in the London Borough of Croydon. It operates from Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, all year around. The setting currently employs six members of childcare staff. Of whom, five hold full and relevant qualifications. The provider offers the government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children. The setting follows the Montessori approach.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector and the deputy manager carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity.

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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

21 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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