Heather Grove Montessori Nursery

Inspection of Heather Grove Montessori Nursery 1 Warrington Road, Cuddington, NORTHWICH, Cheshire CW8 2LH

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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

The caring, family atmosphere that staff create enables children to feel very safe and secure. Children develop extremely strong attachments with their key person. The manager and staff keep children's well-being and enjoyment at the centre of everything they do. Staff talk to children in a calm and respectful manner, gently reminding them about the need to share and take turns. Children are developing an awareness of their emotions and are caring towards each other. Staff ensure that children's language and communication development is a priority. For example, they use Makaton signing with children and carefully choose songs and books for each age range. Staff model language well and tailor this to the individual needs of children. For example, staff introduce and repeat single words as they play with babies. They also use visuals and signs for children to support their understanding. Staff engage older children in conversations and ask questions to extend their

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The provision is good

thinking. For example, when they are making models with cardboard, they use children's responses and ideas to extend the conversation and include other children in their discussion. Children become confident talkers.

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The provision is good

Throughout their day at nursery, children demonstrate high levels of engagement in their learning. They focus intently on their work and are supported by the very dedicated staff team. They make friends and play well with their peers. Children demonstrate high levels of confidence and self-esteem in their learning, self-care and communication. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress and are ready for their next steps in learning, including starting school.

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need to do better?

n Transitions into the setting for new babies and children are thoughtfully planned with robust settling-in sessions. Staff gather key information about children when they first start to ensure continuity of care. As children move between rooms, transitions are carefully managed to help children develop strong, secure attachments with their new key person. n The management team is dedicated, maintaining strong oversight of the setting, staff, children and families. Low staff turnover reflects its commitment to staff development and well-being, with staff feeling well supported. However, while supervisions and monitoring are completed, staff do not always receive focused feedback on their teaching practice. n Leaders and staff plan a clear, varied curriculum that helps children make continuous progress throughout the nursery. For the youngest children, the focus is on building attachments and providing a nurturing environment. Older

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need to do better?

children receive support to develop social and self-help skills, preparing them for school. Children also learn about the world through visits from community

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need to do better?

26 June 2025 members, such as a local beekeeper, which enriches their understanding of living things and supports their learning and development. n Staff support children's early mathematical development effectively by incorporating mathematics into everyday activities and routines. They encourage counting throughout the day and give lots of opportunities for children to identify numbers. This supports children's early understanding of mathematical concepts. n Staff promote healthy lifestyles effectively by ensuring children have daily outdoor time for fresh air and physical activity. They actively teach children about healthy eating and enhance learning through their own garden, where children experience growing food first hand. n Staff implement 'golden rules' that help children to understand what is expected of them. Children behave well in the setting. They respond respectfully to instructions given to them by staff and happily follow the routines established

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need to do better?

within the setting. n Overall, children show positive attitudes to learning and enjoy group activities. However, staff do not always organise the learning environment to fully support engagement. Consequently, group sizes and background distractions sometimes lessen the effectiveness of learning experiences. n Partnerships with parents are strong. They are fully involved in nursery life and feel well supported. Parents receive information to help their children's learning at home and receive suggestions from staff for activities to try at the weekend. They are also regularly updated on their children's progress. Specific skills, such as the method taught to put on a coat, are shared with parents to encourage consistency between home and the nursery.

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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 enhance staff monitoring to accurately pinpoint specific teaching development needs in order to support consistently high quality teaching n carefully organise the learning environment during group times to minimise distractions, enabling children to listen attentively and fully engage.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461301 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10392140 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 48 Number of children on roll 77

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Name of registered person

Holly Grange Montessori Nursery (Cuddington) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01606889888 Date of previous inspection 6 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Heather Grove Montessori Nursery registered in 2013. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays. It operates in line with the Montessori educational philosophy. The nursery provides funded early education for children.

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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 curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The management team spoke to the inspector about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector and manager carried out joint observations of group activities. n Children interacted with the inspector throughout the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector reviewed a sample of key documentation.

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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 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.

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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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