Footprints Montessori Day Nursery

Inspection of Footprints Montessori Day Nursery Long Reach, West Horsley, LEATHERHEAD, Surrey KT24 6LZ

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children are warmly greeted in their rooms by the nurturing staff team. Staff plan settling-in sessions unique to the children. As such, babies settle extremely quickly and explore the motivating environment. Older children are eager to tell staff about their various experiences over the weekend. Staff show genuine interest and listen intently to the children. This supports children's emotional well-being and helps them feel safe and secure.

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The provision is good

The manager and staff are passionate about delivering high-quality care and education to the children, following the Montessori philosophy curriculum. They place high priority on supporting children to become confident communicators. Staff who work with babies and toddlers sing songs and rhymes. They use single words in their play. For instance, toddlers use containers to catch the rainwater, and staff use words such as 'drip, drip' and 'splash'. Toddlers mimic these sounds, developing their early vocabulary. Staff challenge older children in their language skills. For instance, children are learning about Australia and recall animals such as a 'koala' and 'duck-billed platypus'. Furthermore, they recognise pictures of famous landmarks such as Ayers Rock. All children make excellent progress in their speech and language.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They teach children from a young age how to respect their environment through positive praise. As such, children are gentle with the resources and listen well to the staff. Children's behaviour is good.

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need to do better?

n Children are developing their independence from a very early age because of the excellent opportunities presented to them by the staff. For instance, toddlers learn to put on their shoes and waterproof boots to play outside. Older children often wash their hands without prompting before eating and after visiting the toilet. Furthermore, children prepare a watermelon juice drink as they cut up their own fruit for a snack. These skills help prepare them well for their later move to school. n Overall, the curriculum intent is well sequenced and focuses on what the children need to further develop in their learning. Managers have an in-depth understanding of what they want children to learn. However, in some group activities, staff do not effectively extend children's individual learning. This means sometimes children become distracted and leave the activity. As such, they do not consistently benefit from the intended learning to build on what they

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need to do better?

already know and can do. n Staff provide ample opportunities for children to develop their physical skills.

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need to do better?

31 July 2025 Children are fascinated as they use pipettes to transfer coloured water into a glass jar to create weather clouds. Older children run and have great fun using the slide in the rain. Staff use this to help teach children how to keep themselves safe, but still give children plenty of challenges in their play. This helps children to develop their muscle groups for later learning. n Staff teach children how to behave by demonstrating how to listen to each other during conversations and by using good manners. For instance, mealtimes are relaxed. Staff sit with the children and also enjoy the freshly home-cooked food. They acknowledge fully when children use the good manners they have learned. This helps children understand what staff expect of them. n Inclusion is at the heart of this nursery. Staff provide very good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They focus

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need to do better?

strongly on meeting their individual needs. Staff work closely with other professionals and parents to create and use plans that help children with SEND and medical needs to progress in their development. n Partnerships with parents are very strong. They comment that their children's communication and speech are 'beautiful' and that their children are extremely well prepared for school. Parents are grateful for the regular information that is shared with them about their children's learning. This helps promote children's continuity in their learning and development. n Managers and staff have positive relationships. Staff say that they love working at the nursery and feel valued in their roles. There are systems in place for leaders to identify mandatory training needs. However, this occasionally does not consider how to support the individual needs of staff to understand the intent of the curriculum fully.

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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 support staff to teach precise learning intentions during group activities to help children remain fully engaged and learning n provide further support, coaching and training for staff to help them fully understand the nursery's curriculum to help them plan more precisely for each child's learning and development needs.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY304311 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 10398781 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 85 Number of children on roll 88 Name of registered person Footprints Montessori Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01483 285591 Date of previous inspection 8 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Footprints Montessori Day Nursery registered in 2005. It is located in West Horsley, Leatherhead, Surrey. The nursery employs 33 members of childcare staff. Of whom, 24 hold relevant childcare qualifications between level 3 and level 6. The nursery opens all year round, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery combines the Montessori teaching principles with a play-based curriculum. It provides government funded early education places for children aged from nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n Managers 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, parents and children 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 carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the managers. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

31 July 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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