Bournemouth Montessori Centre

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happily at this welcoming nursery, eager to explore with their friends. Staff get to know children well. Younger children enjoy reassurance and cuddles, for example, as they try out new skills such as making their first few steps by themselves. They beam with delight as staff praise their determination and success.

The provider and staff have a shared understanding of what they want children to learn. The curriculum is ambitious for all children with a focus on a love of learning for life. Staff support children to be independent in all they do. Children take responsibility for taking care of their environment, for example, by cleaning tables and skilfully using a dustpan and brush following activities. Staff are highly attentive to children's needs and respond sensitively when children show signs of feeling tired or hungry. They encourage a calm atmosphere, where children learn to share and cooperate together during play.

Staff promote children's health and well-being well throughout the nursery. Children enjoy running and climbing in the fresh air, for example, as staff expertly support them to challenge themselves to extend their physical skills. Children eagerly take part in activities, such as yoga concentrating well to move their bodies and pose like a cobra.

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

• The provider is passionate about providing children with the best start in life and continually reviews the quality of the nursery. This involves children, staff and parents, so there is a strong focus for improvements. For example, the provider has recently extended the ways in which parents are informed about what children are enjoying in the nursery.
• Staff say they love working at the nursery, which has a positive impact on children's enjoyment and well-being. The provider is highly supportive of the dedicated staff team through the rich opportunities for staff training, for example. Staff regularly reflect on their work with the children and are enthusiastic to contribute fresh ideas that inspire children's interest and engagement in learning.
• There is good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff monitor children's development closely and promptly notice any gaps in their learning. They work in effective partnership with parents and other professionals to ensure all children reach their full potential. The provider uses additional funding to provide care that matches their individual needs extremely well.
• Children become confident communicators. Staff value what children have to say and encourage them to listen to others. For example, children carefully follow instructions when they are caring for the African snails in the nursery. Children eagerly explain how they care for the snails and delight in using new vocabulary, such as 'antenna', while wiggling their fingers.
• Children benefit from opportunities to plant, grow and harvest produce from the garden. They gain an understanding of healthy eating and help to prepare the produce for snack time. Even the youngest children are able develop their independence and physical skills as they carefully spread butter on wraps and help themselves at mealtimes.
• Staff expertly encourage children to explore and support their curiosity and creativity when they lead their own play. However, some adult-guided group activities do not provide enough interest and challenge, which means that children lose interest and do not extend their learning fully.
• Children have access to a variety of opportunities to develop their early literacy skills. They begin to recognise their names on their coat pegs, when they arrive each day, for example. Staff skilfully encourage children to match pictures and words. However, staff miss some opportunities to routinely encourage children to access books and listen to stories to enhance their literacy development fully.
• Partnerships with parents are effective and parents comment positively about the care their children receive at the nursery. They appreciate the sensitive settling-in sessions that enable children to enjoy attending from the start. Staff ask parents about children's routines at home and ensure there is continuity and consistency in the nursery.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to plan adult-led group activities to fully engage and challenge all children to deepen and extend their learning
• extend opportunities for children to access books to support their early literacy skills even further.