Principal:Carole Montana
Hargrave Hall
Hargave Road
London N19 5SP
England
+44 (0)20 7281 3889 contact@montysmontessori.co.uk
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Ofsted Report
21/11/2006 - Ofsted Report - Monty's Montessori School - Unique Reference Number EY336437 >>PDF
Latest Ofsted Report - 21/11/2006
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Inspection report for early years provision
Unique Reference Number EY336437
Inspection date 21 November 2006
Inspector Chris Banks
Setting Address Hargrave Hall Community Centre, Hargrave Road, LONDON, N19 5SP
Telephone number 02072813889
E-mail principle@montysmontessori.co.uk
Registered person Carole Montana
Type of inspection Childcare
Type of care Full day care
About this inspection
The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage.
The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.
The key inspection judgements and what they mean
Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality
Good: this aspect of the provision is strong
Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound
Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough
For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE
On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:
The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.
WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?
Monty's Montessori for children aged between two and five years was registered in 2006. It is privately run and operates from a church hall in the N19 area of Islington. The nursery is open all year round and runs each weekday from 09:00 to 15:00. Morning sessions are from 09:00 to 12:00 and afternoon sessions operate from 12:00 to 15:00. Children may attend a variety of sessions. In some cases, children stay all day. The setting is registered to care for a maximum of 30 children at any one time. There are currently 24 children on roll.
The nursery follows the principles of Montessori teaching and employs a team of four staff, all of whom hold appropriate qualifications in Montessori teaching or early years childcare.
- THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION
Helping children to be healthy The provision is good.
Children are cared for in bright, clean and welcoming surroundings. They are well protected from the risk of infection because staff have clear written procedures in place which are put into effective practice. Children are strongly encouraged to use good personal hygiene from an early age and are very familiar with hand washing routines. They are also learning about aspects of dental health and are encouraged to brush their teeth after meals. Bathroom facilities are clean and hygienic but do not afford children sufficient privacy.
Staff are well informed about children's individual health issues and keep well documented records. Children benefit from the comprehensive sickness policy of the nursery which also gives clear guidance on symptoms of common early childhood illness and details of exclusion times.
Children enjoy nutritious snacks and drinks because healthy eating is positively promoted. Children are able to help themselves to dried and fresh fruit throughout the day and water is made freely available. Meal times are very relaxed and sociable occasions. Children are comfortable with the routine of washing their own crockery and helping to tidy away afterwards.
Children enjoy being outdoors in the fresh air where they can exercise and also enjoy free play for part of each day. The garden area is also well used by children in better weather. Here they learn more about the source of some foods when they grow vegetables.
Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe The provision is good.
Children are cared for in a safe environment. Premises are well secured and all visitors are required to prove their identity and sign a visitors book. There are also safe arrangements for the arrival and collection of children. Photo identity is used and children are only released to known adults named on the child's registration form.
Children explore their surroundings in comfort and safety because staff take good practical precautions to protect them. There is a well developed system in place for assessing potential safety risks and prompt action is taken if any are identified. Good routine safety procedures such as regular fire drills are used as a learning exercise for children. They are positively encouraged to develop an awareness of their own safety and also consider others when evacuating a building.
The overall welfare of children is positively safeguarded because key staff are knowledgeable about their role and responsibilities in child protection. It is made clear to parents in writing that the welfare of children is their first concern and that they act in the best interests of the child at all times. There are clear written procedures to follow if there are concerns about a child and effective partnerships working with professional outside agencies.
Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do The provision is good.
Children look forward to coming to the nursery because staff greet them warmly and make them feel very welcome. The hall is well prepared in advance of their arrival and this helps create a sense of ownership for children who then quickly settle.
Activities and routines are mostly based on the Montessori approach. There are good opportunities for children to share and enjoy a range of interesting and stimulating activities throughout the day. Their choice to play alone is respected but they are also encouraged to participate in circle times which are great fun. At these times, imaginations are encouraged to wander and the enthused, motivated approach of specialist staff makes the activity even more enjoyable for children.
Children benefit from the overall good listening and communication skills of staff who are extremely kind and attentive. They support children well in their choice of activities and encourage them to learn many different practical skills such as dressing themselves and preparing food. Children's creativity is strongly encouraged and children use a range of mediums including water colour paints, pastels and charcoal.
Children benefit from being able to choose from an extensive range of high quality, age appropriate learning resources. Everything is stored at child height and is made easily accessible. Children treat equipment with respect.
Helping children make a positive contribution The provision is good.
Children are valued and respected because staff have a good understanding of their individual needs and respond to them very well. They benefit from being looked after in a happy and relaxed atmosphere where time is taken to get to know a child's personality as well as their care needs. Comprehensive information is gathered and recorded about the needs of each child. There is also a system in place and links with other agencies to ensure children with disabilities are integrated and supported.
Children behave well and readily co operate with each other. Staff are good role models who positively encourage children to care about the feelings of others. Older children support younger children well and if a minor conflict arises, children are encouraged to negotiate. If there are any serious concerns about a child's behaviour, it is dealt with in a very sensitive way.
Partnership with parents is good. They receive a warm welcome from staff and are given clear and comprehensive written information about the service. Children benefit from their parents participation in celebratory events at the nursery which are also used to positively acknowledge a child's individuality. Parents receive regular information on how their child is progressing through diaries and informal meetings.
Children are learning to acknowledge difference and are positively encouraged to learn more about the world around them. Parents are actively involved in different cultural festivals at the nursery which helps children begin to understand more about the traditions and values of others. They taste different food and also listen to experiences of families from different backgrounds.
Organisation The organisation is good.
Children benefit from being cared for by a well qualified and experienced staff team. They are knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities and work very well together to create a happy and relaxed atmosphere for children who appreciate their kind and gentle approach.
Clear and comprehensive written policies and procedures relating to children's health and safety are effectively put into practice. All staff are fully checked for their suitability to work with children.
Space in the main hall is very well organised. There are clearly designated areas for different activities and easy to reach resources. Children enjoy well managed mealtimes. Food is attractively presented, table cloths and napkins are used and vases of dried flowers decorate each table. Toilet facilities, however, do not afford children sufficient privacy.
Documentation is very well organised and stored confidentially. Systems are also in place to ensure polices, procedures and records are regularly updated. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.
Improvements since the last inspection Not applicable.
Complaints since the last inspection
There have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action to meet the National Standards. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.
THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE
On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection: The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.
- WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT?
The quality and standards of the care
To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):
Create a more private space in the bathroom area for children using the toilet.
Any complaints about the inspection or the report should be made following the procedures set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
