The Grove Montessori

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are extremely happy and thrive in this superbly resourced nursery. They flourish in this stimulating and exceptionally welcoming provision. They separate well from their parents and are particularly keen to see staff and their friends on arrival. They settle quickly, exploring the wide variety of experiences on offer across the provision. Babies make excellent progress with their physical skills. They develop strength in their legs as they pull themselves up on the secure furniture in the attractive learning environment. Older children are challenged to create their own still-life artwork. They are encouraged to look and study closely and then draw what they see and think. Staff support children to communicate their own ideas about the object and foster their creativity. Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff skilfully model the language of conflict resolution with them. This contributes to children's ability to state their needs confidently, to take turns and to share resources successfully. Children play cooperatively and demonstrate a keen awareness of the needs of others.

Children have frequent trips out to museums, galleries and farms, as well as experiences in the local area. This enhances their learning and their understanding of the natural world. Children learn about the local community and each other's family backgrounds through skilful teaching by the staff team. Children experience a language-rich environment, where their vocabulary develops rapidly. Older children are extremely confident to communicate their ideas and are encouraged to contribute across all areas of learning by staff. They speak fluently and have an extensive range of vocabulary. This is demonstrated by children contributing to oral storytelling, which helps build vocabulary and enhances memory recall. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive swift and targeted support from skilled and highly trained staff. As a result, all children make rapid progress from their starting points.

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

• Leaders and managers have expertly developed their exceptionally ambitious curriculum for all children. They have achieved this through using information from their precise monitoring of children's interests and their deep understanding of what children need to learn and do next.
• The nursery environment is very well planned and organised so that children have abundant opportunities to engage in open-ended, stimulating play. Staff use the inspiring facilities and equipment to a high standard, and children have a very wide variety of environments to explore.
• Children show amazing communication skills and develop a wonderful love of books and stories. Staff display fiction and non-fiction books in all areas, and children choose the book of the month, which is shared with parents. Staff incorporate the book of the month in all areas of learning and make their own innovative resources as part of this. This enhances children's learning experiences.
• The outdoor area, including the 'seaside conservatory' and the wood lodge, is a magical, creative and exciting place for children. They love spending time here, where they independently access stimulating and challenging resources that add another level of learning, curiosity, awe and wonder for them.
• Staff ensure their interactions with children are respectful and harmonious. This contributes to children's confidence and self-awareness. The youngest children benefit from close and nurturing relationships with staff who place babies' unique needs at the centre of everything they do. Care routines maximise the opportunity for gentle one-to-one communication. This considered approach supports children's emotional well-being and nurtures strong feelings of security.
• Staff are excellent role models for communication and language. They reinforce children's understanding with effective use of simple sign language. Staff use rhythm, rhyme and stories to extend children's speech and language skills. Younger children delight in participating in a familiar rhyme where they can interact using puppets.
• Staff consistently encourage children to be independent. Children make clear progression in these skills as they move through the nursery. Babies learn to use spoons to feed themselves. Young children skilfully use knives and forks at lunchtime, and older children capably help set the table. For example, they know where to get the plates, cutlery and glasses from in the cupboards, and after their meal, they know how to stack the dishwasher. They competently wash their hands and persevere with putting on their coats to play outdoors. This fully supports children to manage their own personal needs when they are ready to move on to school.
• Partnerships with parents are exceptionally strong. The highly effective communication systems ensure that parents are fully aware of their children's experiences and how to continue this support at home. Parents feel supported and praise the nursery's work, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. They highly appreciate the workshops that the nursery provides for them, giving them a deeper understanding of the importance of what and how their children are learning.
• Staff benefit from regular supervision, coaching and support. This provides leaders and managers with good oversight of workloads and staff well-being. There are superior arrangements for reflecting on and improving practice, including extensive professional development opportunities for staff. This results in staff's high-quality interactions and the nursery's continually evolving practice.