Play Studio Montessori Nurseries

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children clearly enjoy their time spent at the nursery. Staff know the children well and are nurturing and caring to their individual needs. All children show that they are settled, happy and enjoy their play and learning experiences. Staff implement a broad curriculum that supports children's development. Children demonstrate good attitudes to learning. They have plenty of opportunities to play outside in the garden and develop good physical skills. Younger children move around with increasing confidence. Older children confidently demonstrate their control as they balance and jump over, on and off different-sized obstacles.

Children behave well. Staff model good behaviours and teach them the importance of being kind, taking turns and sharing with their friends. Children's self-esteem and confidence are developed successfully as they receive lots of praise for their accomplishments. Children are encouraged to complete tasks on their own. For example, staff encourage them to prepare their own snacks and tidy away their toys when they have finished playing with them. This supports children to build on their independence effectively. Staff talk to children about the benefits of healthy eating and the importance of exercise and how this contributes to their good health. Older children are self-sufficient at following personal hygiene routines.

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

• Managers and staff know the children well and provide a well-sequenced curriculum that covers all areas of learning. Staff accurately assess children's progress. This helps children to be prepared for the next stage in their learning. However, staff do not always provide additional challenge during some activities to extend the most-able children's learning.
• Managers ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported to make good progress. Staff are quick to identify children who are not at their expected levels of development. They make swift referrals and work in partnership with other professionals to target plans for those children who need them.
• Children experience many opportunities to develop their physical skills. They thoroughly enjoy taking part in ballet and music and movement sessions, where they practise balancing on their tiptoes, stomp like dinosaurs and hop around like bunnies. Children enjoy more focused activities, such as mark making and using tools. For example, staff closely supervise children as they cut up their fruit at snack time. This helps them to develop their coordination and muscle control for early writing.
• Children who rest after lunch know when it is time to have a sleep, as routines are consistent. However, the organisation of sleep time is not always effective at helping some children to settle quickly. Children who are awake and do not need a sleep are curious to play. This distracts and prevents others from falling asleep swiftly.
• Communication and language are promoted well. For example, staff speak clearly and model good language. They extend children's language as they introduce new words in context, such as 'skeleton' and 'bones' when looking at x-rays and creating skeletons using cotton buds.
• Children have healthy and nutritious meals throughout the day. Their independence is encouraged as the babies learn to feed themselves with a spoon. Older children set tables at mealtimes, serve their own food, pour their drinks and scrape their plates. Staff are aware of children's allergies and dietary requirements when serving food and ensure that these are adhered to.
• Managers and staff work extremely hard to develop positive partnerships with parents. Parents receive information every day about what their children have been doing and what they are working towards. This helps them to continue their learning at home. Parents speak very highly of the care their children receive.
• Children's safety is paramount. Security measures within the nursery are good. The premises are safe and secure, and records of visitors are maintained and their identification checked.
• Managers are committed to their roles. They understand the value of reflecting and evaluating their provision. This helps them to continually improve and make required enhancements where needed. Managers undertake regular staff supervision sessions and appraisals. These sessions provide staff with an opportunity to discuss their key children's development and identify any specific training needs. This supports the care and education the children receive effectively.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to focus more closely on all available opportunities to challenge and extend children's learning even further
• review the organisation of sleep routines to help children to settle to sleep quicker.