Barnes Montessori Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Excellent relationships between staff and children are evident across the nursery.

Children show that they feel safe and emotionally secure. They arrive at nursery happy and excited to learn. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make significant progress from their starting points.

They develop excellent knowledge of early literacy. For example, many older children write and read familiar words. Staff give priority to supporting children's personal, social and emotional development.

As a result, children display very positive attitudes to learning. They often... persevere with tasks until they succeed. For example, when a child was unsure how to put on their shoes, staff modelled and explained to enable the child to work this out for themselves.

Children's high levels of perseverance are also evident as they practise their cutting skills or when they climb low-level trees during outdoor play. Children are extremely well mannered, respectful and sociable. Their excellent behaviour is a reflection of the high expectations set for them by staff.

This gives children a clear understanding of boundaries and what is expected of them. All children, even the youngest, are highly independent learners. They demonstrate superb self-help and practical skills.

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

The manager's vision to help each child reach their full potential is shared and communicated extremely well to all staff. Since the last inspection, she has continued to provide a curriculum that is rich, broad and stimulating.Staff get to know children exceptionally well.

They observe and assess children's learning rigorously, which gives them detailed knowledge of what each child knows and can do. This ensures staff provide activities that are suitable, yet challenging for the children.Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make rapid gains in their language development.

They express themselves very well and ask questions to show their curiosity. Parents noticed that their children's communication skills have significantly improved since joining the nursery.Staff highly value children as individuals.

They organise many different events to help children understand the similarities and differences between themselves. One example of this, which is very popular with parents and children, is the 'birthday walk'. On the day of the inspection, staff and parents worked very well together to organise this special event.

Children were in awe as they listened to stories about their friend's achievements. They showed their excellent knowledge of numbers as they counted for different purposes.Staff use questions to great effect to help children find solutions to the problems they face during play.

This gives children high levels of confidence to solve minor disputes for themselves.Children take their play outside all year round to enhance their learning, particularly their physical skills. They have a wonderful time as they run across the grounds or the large field, jump in puddles and climb low-level trees.

Children are active and highly motivated learners.Staff place great importance on supporting children's behaviour. They often communicate with each other to ensure they manage children's behaviour in a consistent and sensible manner.

As a result, children's behaviour is superb.There are outstanding links with the parents. Staff involve parents in their children's learning very well.

They provide parents with a wealth of information about all aspects of the nursery. Parents hold the nursery and staff in high regard. Partnerships with external professionals are equally very successful.

Children benefit greatly from the consistent approach.Staff are very responsive to the supervision and value the excellent development opportunities offered to them. They gain new ideas, such as how to enhance children's language and listening skills more effectively.

This has had a very positive impact on children, particularly those who initially struggled to express their needs.The manager's self-evaluation process is highly effective. She actively seeks the views of others to help reflect on the standards of teaching and care.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager ensures that highly effective measures are taken to protect the health and well-being of children, staff and adults who visit the nursery. A culture of vigilance among staff gives children high levels of confidence to play and take age-appropriate risks.

Children are supervised closely without their learning and development being hindered. The manager and staff have a clear understanding of how to identify children at risk of harm and what to do in these circumstances. There are rigorous recruitment and vetting procedures to ensure staff are suitable to work with children.