Apple Tree Montessori Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is good • The managers and their staff are highly qualified and have a wealth of experience. This helps to ensure the children in the nursery receive the best possible opportunities to make good progress from their starting points. • Staff know children well.

They make effective use of what they know about the individual children to plan for what they need to learn next. This helps to motivate children to play and learn. • Staff put a lot of thought into the planning of the environment.

They introduce seasonal resources that spark children's curiosity and involvement. • Children develop strong emotional bonds with their key person and all members of staff.... Younger children are given lots of reassurance and cuddles to help them settle into the nursery, in their own time.

• Staff have developed strong and trusting relationships with parents. Daily conversations between staff and parents help to provide a consistent approach in supporting children's care and learning. • Staff quickly identify children whose achievements are below what is expected for their age.

They work very well with parents and other professionals to help support these children. This helps to make sure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress. • Snack time is a superb opportunity for children to sit together and develop social skills.

Staff enhance children's independence, for example by showing them how to cut their own fruit safely and pour milk. • The staff have not yet explored a wide range of child-led opportunities that could raise the quality of learning to the very highest levels. • Occasionally, staff do not enable children to solve their own problems.