Brightstart Montessori Nursery, Scottow

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are eager to enter this warm and nurturing nursery. Staff greet them with a warm and enthusiastic welcome and create a stimulating environment with engaging activities that spark children's curiosity. Children understand and respond well to the high expectations set by staff, who act as calm, reassuring role models. Staff speak to children with respect and take a gentle, attentive approach. They consistently offer praise and encouragement, recognising each child's achievements. Children are impeccably well behaved and are kind and considerate to their peers, share and take turns and offer help to one another during activities.

Children are deeply engaged throughout their play while using Montessori equipment. For example, they carefully trace sandpaper letters with their fingers as they match each letter to the corresponding object. They show high levels of concentration as they skilfully transfer water using a large dropper. These activities support the development of coordination and strengthen fine motor skills effectively. Staff support children to develop their early literacy skills and express their imaginations. Children excitedly gather around staff and re-enact the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'. They are provided with props, such as character figures and different sized beds. Children use language such as 'big, medium' and 'small'. This reinforces their understanding of the story and introduces early mathematical concepts.

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

• The manager and staff are committed to providing high-quality care and education, following a Montessori philosophy curriculum. They work closely with parents to gather key information when children first join, enabling them to understand each child's individual needs. Staff consistently monitor children's progress, swiftly identifying any gaps in their development and quickly implement targeted support. They use additional funding to meet children's individual needs. This includes for instance purchasing additional resources that further enhance children's experiences. This ensures every child makes consistently good progress.
• Staff support children's communication and language development effectively. They speak calmly and give children time to think and respond to their questions. Staff introduce new words to support children to build on their vocabulary and explain these new words clearly. For instance, they 'predict' what will happen as they explore which resources will float or sink in the water and discuss how a sponge is 'saturated'. As a result, children become confident and expressive communicators.
• Staff place a strong emphasis on promoting children's independence, self-care and practical life skills. Children are encouraged to make choices for themselves.
• They select and engage in activities independently from open shelves, place them onto a mat and then return them once finished. They demonstrate perseverance when dressing for outdoor play and show responsibility by wiping their noses and disposing of tissues appropriately. Children independently pour their own drinks, cut with scissors and sweep and carry out tasks, such as washing up after snack.
• Staff use every opportunity to help children to understand how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Every morning, children participate in exercise during group time and discuss how it makes their bodies feel. They have ample opportunities to play outside every day in the well-resourced garden, where children get to build on their physical skills. Children learn about healthy food options and harvest vegetables from their garden to eat for snack. Staff teach children about good oral health and the importance of brushing their teeth.
• The management team and staff have developed strong parent partnerships. Parents speak very positively about the setting and comment that each staff member demonstrates a deep commitment to the children's unique needs and personalities. They feel well informed about what their children are learning and comment how they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to progress well when they go to school. Parents explain that staff provide a secure, stimulating and compassionate environment that enables children to thrive.
• The management team demonstrates strong leadership and a clear commitment to achieving the best outcomes for all children. They work collaboratively with staff, children and families to create a supportive and inclusive environment. The management team conducts regular supervisions and appraisals of staff, which help them to feel valued and supported in their roles. Staff complete mandatory and in-house training. However, the management team do not yet make full use of professional development opportunities to continually enhance staff's teaching skills to build on children's knowledge and skills during play.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• build on the arrangements for staff training to further develop their teaching skills and raise the already good quality of education to the highest possible level.