Cute Kids Montessori Nursery School

Inspection of Cute Kids Montessori Nursery School 116 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, London, London SE24 9BB

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children arrive excited to begin their day in this friendly nursery; they separate from their parents and carers well. Staff know children well, planning activities to support their learning through their interests and what they observe. They prepare engaging resources and activities that motivate children to be curious and to learn. Children share a sense of belonging and are keen to introduce themselves to visitors and tell them about their nursery.

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The provision is good

Children spend plenty of time learning outdoors, where they wash the dolls, explore and experiment with different electronic resources and enjoy physical exercise to support their physical skills and healthy lifestyles. Staff praise children for trying hard and children eagerly share a 'high five' with their peers. This motivates them to learn.

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The provision is good

Staff teach a wide curriculum through various themes and children's interests. Children are curious about the world around them and how things work. Staff provide opportunities for children to investigate magnets and how they work. Staff support children to be active and curious in their learning. Children eagerly problem-solve as they test different materials on the magnets, enthusiastically talking about what is sticking and what is not.

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need to do better?

n The curriculum is well designed and sequenced to support children's learning. Staff use activities to extend children's learning through their interests. For example, children concentrate well when trying to move objects into a bowl with magnets in a glass dome. This support develops their small hand muscles for early writing skills and the next stage of their education. n Children show positive attitudes towards learning. They display high levels of concentration in tasks. However, sometimes, staff's organisation of routines, causes children to wait for prolonged periods of time. Therefore, not supporting all learning opportunities. n Staff support children's communication and language skills well. Babies enjoy staff singing nursery rhymes to them and show an interest in books. Older children are provided with opportunities to extend their language skills as staff ask relevant open-ended questions to encourage children to think critically and

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need to do better?

share what they know. Staff introduce new words to extend children's vocabulary; children confidently use these words during their conversations. n Overall children are supported to behave well. Children develop strong friendships with peers. However, at times, staff are not always consistent in managing children's unwanted behaviour. For example, some staff clearly explain why some behaviours are not acceptable and support children to understand

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need to do better?

9 September 2025 what it means to share and be kind. Other staff tell the children to share without offering an explanation. This means that children do not always understand staff expectations or how to manage their behaviours. n Staff support children to develop mathematical concepts by encouraging them to count and compare quantities and size. For example, children eagerly discuss which pot has more and compare different shapes and sizes as they build with magnetic tiles. Children test how fast a ball travels along the ramp. n Overall, children build a strong sense of self and independence in their choices. For instance, staff encourage children to choose the activities they engage with and where they want to play. However, staff do not use routines and everyday tasks to fully promote and encourage independence and self-care. For example, staff serve children's meals and help them with their jumpers and coats.

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need to do better?

Additionally, staff carry babies from activity to activity when they can walk. This does not promote children's independence skills. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff work closely with parents to ensure that children's individual needs are met. Parents feel informed about their children's learning and receive ideas of how to support their learning at home. For example, staff share regular reports with parents to show the progress that children have made. Parents often join story sessions and circle time, sharing their skills. n Leaders carry out regular supervision sessions with staff. They use these meetings to identify and support staff's well-being. Staff have opportunities to build on their knowledge and skills through continual professional 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 interest first.

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should:

n review the organisation of the daily routines to reduce waiting times for children to ensure they remain consistently engaged in learning n develop staff with further strategies to help children to learn to regulate their behaviour and emotions n further support children's independence skills and encourage children to do more things for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY559721 Local authority Lambeth Inspection number 10377159 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 65 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Cute Kids UK Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0203 0162376 Date of previous inspection 18 November 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Cute Kids Montessori Nursery School registered in 2018 and is privately owned. It operates from the ground floor of a converted property in Herne Hill, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, 51 weeks of the year. The nursery is open 7am to 7pm daily. The nursery has five staff with qualifications ranging from level 3 to level 6. The nursery provides government funding for early years children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager completed a learning walk with the inspector and discussed the early years foundation stage curriculum. n The inspector and provider completed a joint observation and evaluated the impact of teaching on children's learning. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children throughout the day. n The inspector spoke to children and staff during the inspection to gain their views. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The provider showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

9 September 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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