Little Orchard Montessori Chaddlewood

Inspection of Little Orchard Montessori Chaddlewood 17 Branson Court, Plymouth, Devon PL7 2WU

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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

Children's faces brighten as they enter the nursery, eager to see their friends and favourite toys. During the day, children enjoy warm cuddles from staff, who form strong bonds with them. Staff understand this strong attachment has a positive impact on the children's learning and development. Children are safe and secure. The curriculum is well planned, preparing children for the next stage of their educational journey. Every child makes good progress in their learning and development, regardless of their starting point.

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The provision is good

Staff help babies build core strength and balance. They support them as they learn to stand and take their first steps. Older children express their creativity by painting on paper and exploring shapes. When children see paint on their fingers, staff take the chance to practise counting. They ask the child to show them all five fingers. Older children develop their imaginations during play with toy dolls. They explain how they are keeping the dolls warm with a blanket. Babies develop independence by sitting on chairs at low tables. They use spoons to eat yoghurt and grated apple. This helps them develop their hand-to-eye coordination. The nursery menu is healthy and balanced, and staff help children develop good eating habits.

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need to do better?

n Children are supported in developing their physical skills. Babies smile in dance sessions, learning to move their bodies to music. Older children enjoy running and jumping outdoors. They experience feeling 'out of breath' and building their heart strength. They develop core strength and balance while crossing a balance beam and obstacle course. n Staff in the baby room engage with children, guiding them to build their vocabulary through singing songs with new words. While babies build a train track, staff help them sing a song about the 'choo-choo' train. They repeat the names of items, such as 'tree' and 'giraffe', helping babies learn new words. Older children chat with their friends. However, staff in the older children's room often make comments but do not always engage older children in conversations that consistently extend their communication, ideas and interests. n Babies develop concentration and hand strength as they transfer coloured rice

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need to do better?

between containers. Older children learn about dimension and sequence as they build a wooden tower. Staff help them understand that they have built something from 'larger' to 'smaller'. However, the planning of activities in the older children's room does not provide enough challenge. As a result, older children often become bored, wander around the room and become disruptive. n Children are curious learners. Staff help older children develop polite manners by modelling when to say 'please' and 'thank you'. Staff aim to guide children to develop respect for others. Older children pay attention to instructions. For

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need to do better?

28 August 2025 example, they know when to line up before going downstairs to play outdoors. However, when children have trouble sharing, staff say, 'No, we do not do that.' Staff do not support older children in understanding how their behaviour affects others. n Parent feedback is positive. Parents report that children are happy and enjoy attending the nursery. They comment that communication is good and they feel informed about what children do. Parents feed back that children make good progress in their social and communication skills. They also note that food allergies are well managed. Parents recommend the nursery to others. n Staff value working as a team and feel appreciated in their roles. They regularly take part in relevant training sessions. A recent course on the key-person role helped staff understand how these relationships boost children's well-being. Staff attend conferences together and join regular in-house training on the

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need to do better?

nursery curriculum. Staff have made strong connections with other early years professionals and local nurseries. They offer guidance and share good practice with other providers.

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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 strengthen staff interactions with older children so that conversations consistently extend their communication, ideas and interests n ensure that the planning and delivery of activities for older children provides sufficient challenge to sustain engagement n develop staff skills in using the curriculum to teach older children about behaviour, so they learn how their actions affect others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2551232 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 10417180 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 33 Number of children on roll 59 Name of registered person Little Orchard Montessori Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07929825261 Date of previous inspection 15 December 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Little Orchard Montessori Chaddlewood registered in 2019 in Plymouth, Devon. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery offers government-funded spaces for childcare. There are 13 members of staff, two of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 6, six hold level 3 qualifications, one holds a level 2 and four are unqualified. The nursery follows the Montessori philosophy.

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Inspection activities

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 manager and the inspector completed a learning walk of the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity, and they evaluated this together. 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 nursery 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

28 August 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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