Toddler Town Montessori Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enjoy their time at the nursery and are excited and happy to begin activities. The nursery follows the Montessori approach with a flexible curriculum brought up to date by the manager to equip children with the knowledge and skills they need for their future learning. Staff have high expectations for what children can achieve. All children are making good progress in their development. From a young age, they show an impressive ability to recognise and name letters and their sounds that form their names. Older children want to talk about the things that interest and excite them. They explain what makes monster trucks different to normal cars and show their desire to find out more by asking multiple questions. Babies use babbling to express themselves and shriek with laughter as they enjoy playing together.

Children's behaviour is excellent. They are well-mannered and polite and show kind consideration for others. Babies explore what their bodies can do. They increase speed as they run and then stop, showing they are gaining control over their balance and coordination. Children learn about healthy eating. They cut salad vegetables for lunchtime and staff talk to them about healthy eating. There are effective measures in place to ensure that children's food preferences, allergies and intolerances are managed well. Staff help children to understand why people eat different foods and this helps with their understanding about the similarities and differences between themselves and others.

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

• The provider, who is the nursery manager, provides a curriculum that is well organised and ambitious to help children to develop into confident, independent individuals. She explains how the curriculum has been beneficial in supporting children in bouncing back from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Children complete their work activities in a reliable and predictive manner. This provides a secure routine that they know and understand. The repetition and practising of activities helps children to master skills, such as using tools. They handle tweezers and pencils with good control and purpose.
• Staff sing nursery rhymes and songs with children. Children copy and follow actions as they join in all together. This is a lively time of the day where children show their obvious enjoyment. Staff model language well and from a young age, children are confident talkers.
• Some children use dummies for comfort when they are settling in at the nursery. These are attached to their clothing by a strap. However, young children do not always need them for comfort and when playing, the dummy sometimes trails on the floor which is not hygienic.
• The nursery is a calm and purposeful environment. Children join together at the beginning of the day and for mealtimes. This is hugely beneficial for their personal, social and emotional development. Older children enjoy taking responsibility for young children, such as holding their hand as they sit down. Younger children watch older children and learn from them.
• Staff spend individual time with children. Key persons get to know the children they care for extremely well and build on their prior learning and experiences successfully. Children are clearly very attached to staff and show they feel safe in their care.
• The special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator is knowledgeable about how to support children and work with other professionals. Staff develop plans to support children and identify any gaps in their learning. They provide targeted support. For example, staff use effective ways to communicate with children who are not yet talking, such as showing photographs and using sign language. This helps all children to make their needs known.
• The provider carries out regular risk assessments to help keep children safe at the nursery. However, they have not completed recent health and safety training to be alert to changes in current guidance in relation to managing risks, such as not using plug socket covers and use of wall heaters.
• The provider manages the setting well. She creates a culture where staff feel valued and supported in their work. Parents receive regular electronic updates and have chance to speak face-to-face with the staff who care for their children. This helps them to know how to support children's learning at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• build on children's confidence and sense of security when settling in at the nursery, ensuring that use of any comfort items does not compromise their good health and well-being
• update knowledge of health and safety to ensure that risk assessments and any measures taken, reflect current guidance and are even more effective in keeping children safe.