Derby nursery celebrates third 'good' Ofsted in the last decade

A Derby nursery is celebrating after being told it is 'good' by Ofsted inspectors for the third time in ten years. The latest report says that staff "develop caring relationships with children and their families" at Derby Montessori School, which is based at Rowditch Place in the city.

The report from the inspection, which took place on October 2, continued: "Staff engage with, and encourage children throughout the day. This helps to build children's confidence and resilience and supports children in having a good attitude to learning.

"For example, staff encourage children to take risks outdoors and use the stilts to balance on. They teach them effectively how to catch a ball and learn how to score in the basketball net. Children jump through hoops and run around the area. This helps to develop their physical skills and strengthen their large muscles."

Aimed at children aged one to four, Derby Montessori was first registered in 1995 and moved to its present location in 2014. The setting employs nine members of staff, has 29 children on roll and is affiliated to the Montessori Society UK.

The Montessori method of education that places the emphasis on hands-on learning and developing skills rather than formal teaching methods.

The inspectors noted that staff at the school "facilitate role play that allows children to re-enact their lived experiences. Children are highly engaged in their learning during these activities.

"For instance, children thoroughly enjoy preparing dinner for teddy and feeding him pizza. They wash play pots and pans, carefully placing them on the side to dry. They beam with pride when showing visitors their completed washing-up. During this play, they take turns, share equipment and discuss their home life."

This is what the nursery does well:

• Managers have a clear intent for children's learning. Staff have a good understanding of what this means for their practice and work together to embed the curriculum goals. This means that children are frequently exposed to learning that promotes good development
• Overall, staff support children's developing language skills well. Staff are particularly effective at holding conversations and asking questions to older children, to help develop their use of language
• Staff provide good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They understand the variety of ways in which children learn and identify when a different process needs to be adopted. Staff work closely with the children, the parents and other professionals to put in place personalised strategies and achievable targets for children to work towards
• Staff support children's developing independence effectively throughout the nursery. For example, young children learn to wash their hands and clear away their snack bowl. Older children successfully learn to manage their own personal care. Children become adept at tasks, such as putting on their coats and pouring their own drinks. This puts them in good stead for starting school.
• Overall, parents are happy with the care provided to their children. They say their children are happy to come into the nursery and go home happy
• Staff are good role models for behaviour, consequently children behave well. There is an ethos of care, kindness and respect throughout the nursery
• There are good systems to support and supervise staff, which promotes a low staff turnover and consistently good practice

In order to improve further the school needs to review and plan group activities, ensure children extend their vocabulary and develop ways to ensure that all parents are receiving relevant information about the nursery and their child's current learning, so they can help build continued learning at home.

The school has been asked if it would like to comment on the Ofsted outcome.