The Old School House Montessori Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children make exceptional progress at this inspiring nursery. They are highly engaged and have an abundance of confidence. Staff offer each child a warm welcome on arrival and enquire about their well-being. This inclusive practice helps children to feel highly valued and creates an incredibly positive start to their day. The key-person system is strongly embedded, which helps children to feel safe and form superbly close and trusting relationships with staff.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. The highly qualified staff are excellent role models and have high expectations for all children. Children show consideration to their friends and are extremely respectful and kind to each other. For example, one child explained and demonstrated to another the sequencing of traffic lights. The child spoke about how indicators on vehicles show others which way they intend to travel as they played with electronic resources.

Staff plan an extremely well-thought-out environment that allows children to take part in stimulating activities that ignite their curiosity and motivate them to learn. Young children show awe and wonder as they lift logs carefully placed in bark to look for a hungry caterpillar. Older children eagerly discuss if and how a small mouse might eat a large acorn. Children become deeply engrossed in these captivating experiences that develop their imaginations and conversational skills. These activities allow children to develop a positive attitude to their learning and become confident learners.

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

• The provider is inspirational and has a clear and effective vision for the nursery. She has recently introduced further exploration of the nature field beside the nursery. This has enabled all children to discover even more about nature, such as growth and regrowth. Children show fascination as they listen to birds and identify insects such as butterflies and bees.
• The highly qualified staff team has an exceptional knowledge of what children can do and need to learn next. Staff are confident in their own teaching abilities and implement an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum. They complete an extensive range of training opportunities to build on their already impressive knowledge. A positive culture of reflective practice enables staff to reflect on what is working well and if any areas need improving to continuously improve practice. Therefore, they have taken highly effective steps to review and improve their practice since the last inspection. Staff share they are extremely happy and feel very well supported in their well-being and professional development.
• Children make exceptional progress with communication, language and literacy.
• They are highly focused as they listen attentively to a range of well-planned stories and use an excellent range of resources that support their interests. Staff are particularly skilled in ensuring that all children participate fully. For example, they introduce a theatre and puppets so less-confident children become confident communicators.
• Staff consider what opportunities would best help children to develop their physical skills. For example, young children strengthen their muscles for walking by climbing and exploring apparatus in their base rooms. Older children relish the opportunity to set out their own obstacle course, which challenges their large-muscle skills. They giggle with delight as they try to balance on one leg and jump over low-level bars.
• Children have excellent opportunities to learn about their local community. They walk to the library, visit a local castle when exploring buildings and enjoy extra-curricular activities such as yoga. Children are extremely independent. They self-serve at mealtimes, scrape their plates and pour their own drinks. Staff engage children in conversations about how to promote their health, such as good oral hygiene and physical exercise. Those children requiring a sleep during the day are closely monitored to maintain their safety.
• As children play in the mud kitchen, staff naturally build on their exploration and natural curiosity. When children question the lightness of a petal and heaviness of a stem, staff introduce scales for children to weigh and compare. This provides excellent opportunities for children to develop their mathematical skills. Children enjoy arranging flowers and placing them on tables for others to admire. Staff support children in celebrating diversity through food tasting in their pretend café.
• Partnerships with parents are extremely strong. Parents are complimentary about staff and say communication regarding their child's care and development is fantastic. They feel involved in their children's learning and particularly welcome ideas on activities to do at home. This provides excellent continuity of care.