Mini Todds Montessori Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive happily at this safe nursery.

The friendly manager and staff warmly greet children on arrival. Staff encourage children to join activities as they arrive or play alongside them until they feel more settled. Staff are responsive to children when they need reassurance.

Staff provide children with a curriculum that covers all areas of learning and the Montessori philosophy. Overall, this encourages and motivates children to want to have a go and learn. Children spontaneously share with their friends and play collaboratively.

For example, they build together and engage in pretend play in the exciti...ng construction area. Staff plan opportunities for children to develop their independence skills. Staff encourage children to have a go at putting their coats on and older children use a knife while being closely supervised to cut their fresh fruit at snack time.

Children make good progress. They develop the skills they need for their move on to school. Children are inquisitive about the environment.

Overall, their behaviour is good. Children show good levels of concentration and persevere with tasks. Children take part in a variety of different activities in the outdoor space.

They are physically active as they run, balance and climb.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

The manager and staff work well together as a team. Staff state they feel valued and have supervisions to discuss training needs and their well-being.

Staff value the training opportunities that the manager identifies for them. The manager is self-reflective and most recently adapted an area for children to have quiet time. This has helped to support children to have a rest and sleep to help meet their needs.

Staff share children's achievements with parents verbally and electronically. They encourage parents to contribute to children's assessments, for example, by asking them to share 'wow' moments and photos. Parents state that they value the support and reassurance that they receive from staff.

Staff share information and resources that help parents to support their child's development at home. Parents say that they receive regular feedback about children's personal care and share the progress that they make.Staff help to build on children's language skills.

They read stories in small groups and provide a commentary as children play. Staff ask questions and encourage children to remember the parts of the story. They encourage children to sing and dance as they move their bodies.

Staff model language effectively. Staff introduce new language. For example, when children explore building blocks creating a garage, staff use the words 'height', 'length' and 'width'.

This helps children's emerging understanding of mathematical language. Staff ask questions and listen to children. They give time for children to respond.

Children learn to be good communicators.Children build good relationships with their friends and staff. Overall, they focus on activities well.

However, on occasion, children can spend a long time waiting during transitions. This can lead to unwanted behaviours and a noisy environment, which can unsettle some children.The nursery is inclusive and supports children's individual needs.

When staff identify children's additional needs, they seek support from outside agencies. The special educational needs coordinator works with parents and other agencies to ensure a consistent approach for children's learning. Additional funding is used to improve outcomes for children at risk of falling behind in their development.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review and improve transitions to ensure that children's waiting time is managed more effectively.

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