Little Munchkins Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Little Munchkins Montessori Nursery Cedrus House, 37 Gresham Road, HOUNSLOW TW3 4BX

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Staff provide a safe, warm and welcoming environment where children eagerly arrive to start their day and that is full of exciting learning opportunities. Staff encourage children to express themselves during group activities, such as circle time, and talk about their past experiences. This helps children boost their confidence and communication and language skills.

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The provision is good

Staff have clear expectations and consider each child as a unique individual. They follow children's interests and consider their abilities when planning for their learning. The provider follows the Montessori philosophy. Children make choices about their play and learning. They develop positive attitudes to learning, and they grow in confidence. Staff encourage children to take turns during group activities. Children learn to share, accept each other's differences and behave well. Staff are caring and meet individual children's needs well. Babies receive lots of attention and enjoy moving their bodies when staff sing nursery rhymes. Children are active, and they regularly access outdoors.

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The provision is good

Leaders, managers and staff provide effective support for children with special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND). They work very closely with parents and some external agencies and provide targeted interventions to help children catch up with their peers. All children, including those who speak English as an additional language and those with SEND make good progress in their learning and development.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers worked hard to improve the overall quality of this early years provision. For example, they arranged enhanced safeguarding training and improved induction for staff to ensure that all staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. n Leaders and managers support staff, including through training, and hold regular supervision meetings with them. However, some staff are less skilled and require more targeted support to help develop their teaching skills and provide consistently high-quality teaching to benefit children. n Staff ensure that children develop new vocabulary as they learn. For example, during a focused activity, staff ask children to 'predict' and explain the meaning of this word. Staff use simple language with babies and encourage them to recognise and repeat animal noises. Children enjoy choosing books and listen attentively to stories that staff read.

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need to do better?

n Staff focus well on developing children's knowledge of mathematical concepts. For example, they encourage children to sort and name sizes as they place wooden cylinders in the correct places.

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need to do better?

26 February 2025 n Staff teach children well about safety. Children comment that they cannot access the climbing frame when is raining because they can slip and hurt themselves. n Staff are kind and caring. Children use 'kind hands' as they play with their friends. They have plenty of opportunities to manage a range of tasks themselves. This includes handwashing, dressing and undressing, and serving themselves at mealtimes. Children learn skills that are needed in readiness for school. n Staff focus well on developing children's English language skills, including through meaningful conversations, singing rhymes and reading. However, children have fewer opportunities to hear and use their home language in their play and learning. n Children use their imagination as they play. For example, they pretend to make a sandcastle for a mermaid to live in. n Babies confidently move around indoors and outdoors. They explore with their

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need to do better?

senses. For example, they feel the texture of the sand before they fill up containers. They problem-solve which container to use for water to remain inside. Pre-school children describe how different objects present in water and categorise them into objects that sink and float. n The key-person system is effective. Staff ensure that children feel emotionally secure when they first start. They have a clear understanding of their key children's next steps and how to support them when they plan for their learning. n Some staff recognise when children are ready to learn phonics and skilfully support them. Children engage in different activities to practise their small muscles, in preparation for early writing. For instance, they complete puzzles, use a range of tools and make marks, and some children write their names. n Partnership with parents is strong. Staff exchange information with parents about children's care, progress and their next steps. This helps to provide

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need to do better?

consistency in children's learning and development.

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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 arrange for more targeted support for less skilled staff to help them develop strong teaching skills and provide consistently strong quality learning experiences for all children n build on current opportunities for children who learn English as an additional language to hear and use their home language in their play and learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY492016 Local authority Hounslow Inspection number 10371915 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 70 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Little Munchkins Montessori Ltd.

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reference number

Telephone number 020 3093 2090 Date of previous inspection 3 October 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Little Munchkins Montessori Nursery registered in 2015 and is based in Hounslow. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of whom, 10 hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery is open all year round, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for Christmas and bank holidays.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years foundation stage curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. 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

26 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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