Bisley Montessori Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are extremely happy on arrival at the nursery, where they are welcomed by the friendly staff. Staff support children to settle well, and they place a strong focus on children's happiness and safety. For example, they use effective methods, such as home visits, to gather important information about children's interests and needs. This helps them to build bonds with children and their families before they begin at the setting. Staff are very caring and attentive to all children. This supports children's well-being and good behaviour.

Children show good levels of imagination. They creatively use resources to make a 'volcano'. Children laugh and giggle as they work together and decide where the dinosaurs will live. Children are excited to explore the environment, whether they are making 'mud cakes', using musical instruments, or pretending to put on a show. Children are supported to develop early mathematical skills. Children count during their play and do simple addition. They thoroughly enjoy this and ask staff if they can repeat the activities. Children develop a good awareness of mathematical language.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff have undertaken 'Early Talk Boost' training to support children's language and communication skills. Consequently, they plan daily sessions with the children. This helps children to make very good progress in their speech.

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

• The manager and staff are passionate about delivering high-quality care and education to the children, following a Montessori philosophy curriculum. They have a clear understanding of the learning intentions within their curriculum, which is well sequenced to help children to remember previous learning. This helps children to consolidate and build on their prior knowledge. However, occasionally, some adult-led group activities are too long and children become distracted, which impacts on their engagement.
• Children learn about the benefits of good health. They know to wash their hands before they use spoons to scoop up their choice of fresh fruits. Staff have shared information with parents about healthy lunch boxes. Furthermore, staff teach children about oral hygiene. This approach supports both children and parents to understand the benefits of healthy practices.
• Children have high levels of confidence in their abilities in social situations. This is because staff focus on teaching children how to understand and manage their own feelings. Children understand the impact that their actions can have on others. This helps children to form friendships and play cooperatively together.
• Children develop a good understanding of their local community and different cultures. Staff plan activities to celebrate the diversity of the children who attend the nursery. For example, children take a celebration book home and parents are invited to contribute to share their family traditions. This helps to broaden children's knowledge of the wider world.
• Staff interactions are mostly supportive of children's learning. However, occasionally, during children's independent play, staff sometimes miss quieter children, who would benefit from their interactions to help to extend their play and support their learning further.
• Children develop good levels of independence. For example, children find their own pegs and take care of their belongings. They self-register their names and change into their indoor shoes. Children are kind and well behaved. Staff have high expectations for children and constantly offer encouragement and praise. This helps to raise children's self-esteem and confidence.
• Staff swiftly identify any children who will benefit from additional support. They use advice from professionals to develop plans that are specific to the needs of the children. This helps staff to deepen their knowledge and support children's individual needs.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents say that their children are extremely well prepared for starting school. They are complimentary about the care and education that staff provide to their children. Parents appreciate the daily communication that staff have with them about what their children have been learning. This means that parents can extend their children's learning at home.
• The manager is very passionate about the nursery and her team. Staff say that they feel well supported in their roles. Newer members of staff appreciate the support with their ongoing professional development.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• consider the length of time that children are expected to sit and listen during adult-led activities, to help children remain engaged and focused
• support staff to recognise when to enhance and extend children's play, particularly for quieter children at the setting.