Little Fingers Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Little Fingers Montessori Nursery 208 Barry Road, LONDON SE22 0JS

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 Not applicable

p.1

The provision is good

Children are warmly greeted by their key person on arrival at the nursery. Staff encourage parents and carers to share important information during handover sessions. This ensures a smooth transition for children. The effective key-person system nurtures children's emotional development, helping them to settle quickly and feel secure. Children respond positively to the friendly staff, eagerly entering the room with confidence.

p.2

The provision is good

Leaders work closely with staff to plan a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the individual needs of children. Staff create a calm and welcoming environment that supports children's learning. They are attentive to children's needs and preferences, building strong and trusting relationships. Staff give children regular praise for their efforts and achievements. This helps to boost children's self-esteem. For example, babies beam with pride when staff praise them for climbing steps and sliding down, encouraging them to develop their physical skills and confidence.

p.2

The provision is good

Overall, leaders and staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Older children independently follow routines, take pride in tidying up and confidently share their efforts with staff. Staff support children to express their feelings, using tools, such as an interactive worry tree, to seek help when needed. This fosters children's independence and emotional awareness. Staff provide a supportive environment that builds children's confidence and resilience.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders and staff regularly review the curriculum and children's progress. This enables them to identify and address any gaps in children's learning promptly. Staff ensure that all children receive targeted support to reach their full potential and help them to become confident and well-rounded individuals. n Staff support children effectively to develop their physical skills. They encourage babies to use equipment, such as climbing frames, stairs and tunnels, that promote their core strength, coordination and gross motor development. Older children use tools such as scissors to cut herbs in the garden. This helps to build their fine motor control and hand–eye coordination. These opportunities support children's physical confidence and independence. n Staff provide rich opportunities to enhance children's early understanding of healthy habits. They engage children in using safety knives to cut fruit for snack

p.2

need to do better?

time and actively encourage them to practise brushing their teeth. These experiences help children to develop their independence and embed positive routines. n Children benefit from sequentially building their skills through practical life activities that strengthen the small muscles in their hands and prepare them for

p.2

need to do better?

23 June 2025 everyday tasks, such as pouring water from jugs. Staff also assign children roles, such as 'mealtime monitors', to support responsibility and routine. These experiences promote fine motor development, independence and a strong sense of capability and belonging within the setting. n Staff thoughtfully weave mathematical learning into daily routines. For example, they encourage children to count how many knives and forks are needed at mealtimes, explore shapes in the environment and encourage children to identify and describe their properties during play. This practical approach helps children develop a strong early understanding of mathematical concepts and builds their confidence in everyday problem-solving. n Staff support children's understanding of the natural world through real-life experiences, such as observing the life cycle of butterflies. Staff link activities to children's individual stages of development, promoting their cognitive and

p.2

need to do better?

language development. These hands-on opportunities spark children's curiosity and deepens their scientific knowledge in meaningful ways. n Staff support children's early literacy and language development by joining in their play, commenting on what they are doing and introducing a wide range of vocabulary. They read with children regularly, take them on library visits and send home books matched to each child's developmental stage. These approaches foster children's love of reading and expands their vocabulary. n Children aged under two years develop positive social skills during mealtimes and group activities. Staff are beginning to support emerging behaviours, such as handing back toys or picking up dropped items. However, they do not reinforce their expectations consistently or provide more regular and age- appropriate guidance. This does not help the youngest children to begin to understand what is expected of them.

p.3

need to do better?

n Leaders and staff work closely with parents and external professionals to support children's learning and development. They share key strategies to help parents to extend their children's learning at home. Parents express high levels of satisfaction with the progress their children make. This strong partnership approach ensures consistency in children's learning between home and nursery.

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 provide guidance for staff to ensure that they consistently support children to fully understand acceptable and unacceptable behaviours.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2717296 Local authority Southwark Inspection number 10394725 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 47 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Little Fingers Montessori Nursery Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07971572346 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Little Fingers Montessori Nursery registered in 2023. It is situated in Dulwich, in the London Borough of Southwark. The nursery is open each weekday, from 8am to 6.30pm, all year around. The nursery provides government funded childcare. It employs 16 members of staff, of these, 11 staff hold recognised early years qualifications from level 3 to level 6. The nursery operates in line with the Montessori education philosophy.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager led the inspector on a learning walk and told the inspector about what they want children to learn at the setting. n Staff, leaders and the manager spoke to the inspector throughout the day. n The manager carried out joint observations with the inspector. They looked at how staff teach and what they want children to learn. n The inspector spoke with parents and gathered their views about their experiences of the setting. n The inspector looked at documentation relating to the suitability of those working with children, such as evidence of first-aid training and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

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

23 June 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.

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