The Village Montessori

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are very happy, confident and secure. They show that they are extremely motivated, independent and curious learners and very quickly settle into their self-chosen tasks.

Those who find it more difficult to separate are secure in the knowledge that their parents are very welcome to stay and play. Children's learning is superbly supported during routines. For example, children select their name cards and use electronic devices to self-register on arrival.

Children learn how to keep themselves safe. They carefully handle the nursery's guinea pig and are involved in risk assessments. Children receive high levels o...f support to think and work things out for themselves.

This helps them to successfully resolve minor disputes without adult intervention. Children who speak English as an additional language receive targeted support from staff and most rapidly acquire good English-speaking skills. Children receive superb support to develop their independence and self-care skills.

For example, they learn how to handle knives safely as they help to prepare fruit for snack. Children show strong determination as they practise how to put on coats independently. They put on wetsuits on rainy days and happily roll around in mud.

Children notice the patterns that their waterproof boots make as they step. They have excellent opportunities to exercise, play and learn outdoors.

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

Staff consistently demonstrate exceptional teaching skills.

For example, when a child arrives with a cuddly owl staff show and discuss photographs of similar birds. The child goes on to create a nest for her owl, complete with worms that she has drawn on paper and has cut into worm-sized lengths with scissors. She further demonstrates her learning as she gently cradles her nest before placing it in a tree outdoors.

Staff give superb support for children to develop their communication and language skills. They frequently introduce new words and use a range of very successful strategies to support children who speak languages other than English at home. Children who speak English as an additional language make very good progress from their starting points.

Children respond very well to instructions and show that they know what is expected of them. They eagerly help others, pushing from behind and saying 'you can do it' when they notice that their friends struggle to pedal on muddy ground. Children show high levels of concentration and focus as they complete their chosen tasks.

This prepares them extremely well for future learning.Staff are very effective key persons and work closely with parents to provide advice, reassurance and support. They successfully establish a two-way flow of information with parents and carers to help promote children's welfare.

Staff very quickly respond to children who need emotional support and meet the personal care needs of children well.Staff skilfully implement activities that help children to learn about other cultures and communities, such as acknowledging Chinese New Year celebrations. They use props and visual aids to help children learn and retell traditional stories, understand the Chinese zodiac and introduce children to different systems of writing.

Staff use their accurate assessments of children's learning to help identify potential gaps in children's development at an early stage. Staff very promptly address emerging concerns or gaps in children's learning and development with the very close engagement and support of parents, and other professionals when needed.The manager provides staff with very effective support to enhance their personal effectiveness and to gain accredited qualifications.

However, arrangements to check that staff remain suitable for their roles are less well developed.The manager uses her strong partnerships with external organisations and practitioners to share good practice and further develop her service. Despite this, self-evaluation is not fully effective in accurately identifying the professional development needs of all staff.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager implements procedures effectively to help keep children safe and secure. Staff complete training to help them understand the potential risks posed to children, including from exposure to extreme views.

They know what action to take if concerned about a child. The manager has a secure understanding of when to liaise with other agencies to help protect children's welfare. She is alert to issues away from her setting that may have an impact on children's welfare.

Staff manage risks effectively and show that they implement procedures such as dealing with children's accidents appropriately. The manager implements safer recruitment guidance.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nenhance arrangements to check that staff remain suitable for their roles review the professional development needs of staff to further enhance self-evaluation.

Also at this postcode