One World Montessori Nursery Focus Group

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish at this small and cosy nursery. Staff have high expectations and provide a well-thought-out and motivating curriculum. They constantly praise children's achievements, and children develop a positive attitude to learning. Children engage well with the learning activities on offer. They make good progress. Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting children to explore and develop through their senses. They plan a stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environment in accordance with children's interests. Children confidently self-select resources to investigate and learn new concepts. Outdoor learning is a key aspect of the daily routine. Children enjoy regular visits to the park and forest school. Staff use these trips to enrich children's learning and deepen their understanding.

Children demonstrate that they are happy, safe and secure. They receive lots of affection and hugs and show that they have strong bonds. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They lead by example, and therefore, children behave well. For example, when children each receive a different cause-and-effect toy to hammer, they willingly swap them over and share. Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is of a high standard. Staff work closely with parents and carers to make early referrals, and children get lots of support to thrive. Leaders carefully consider how to spend any additional funding and ensure that all children reach their full potential. This helps all children to get the best possible outcomes in their learning and development.

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

• Staff monitor children's progress closely and know children's individual needs well. They understand child development and plan the next steps for children's learning. Staff reflect on their teaching practice. For example, children listen and eagerly wait for their turn during a fun and interactive game to enhance children's communication and language. Children are captivated as staff use new objects to make the activity even more exciting.
• Staff focus heavily on extending children's language so that they can become confident communicators. They repeat key words with actions and sign language. This ensures that all children understand what is being asked. Consequently, all children attempt to use single words and copy staff's positive interactions.
• Staff provide children with access to a wide range of books throughout the day. They regularly read stories, and children explore books independently during their play. This supports children's early literacy development.
• Children concentrate for periods of time as they take part in activities that interest them. For example, when manipulating different shaped cylinders in a mathematics activity to place in order of size, they learn about shape and space and to problem-solve. This helps children to develop their mathematical skills.
• Staff teach children about healthy lifestyles. Children enjoy freshly made snacks and meals prepared by the catering team on site. Staff talk with children about the benefits of trying new foods as they choose from a selection of fruits and vegetables.
• Children visit the local park for exercise and have access to a garden, which staff use to encourage them to be active and enhance their physical skills. They benefit from regular music and dance sessions. Children learn to move their bodies to the rhythms and the beats of their favourite songs and copy actions. This helps them to express themselves freely and develop their gross motor skills and coordination.
• Staff feel well supported within their roles and benefit from staff meetings to share ideas and information. Leaders use individual supervision sessions and appraisals to consider staff's professional development. They encourage staff to engage in further training opportunities.
• Overall, staff support children well to develop their independence. They encourage children to make choices during their play and select toys of interest. Children automatically clear away what they are playing with and manage their self-care, such as washing their hands after using the toilet. Staff promote children's independence throughout the day, especially during mealtimes.
• Partnership with parents is extremely positive. Parents are complimentary of how the setting keeps them well informed of what their children are learning. Staff are aware that children use technology at home. However, they do not teach them about online safety as part of the planned curriculum. Furthermore, they do not share information with parents about the importance of keeping their children safe while using the internet.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide a greater focus in the curriculum on helping children to develop an understanding of online safety.