Inspection of Manchester Montessori
House
116b Egerton Road North, MANCHESTER M16 0BZ
Inspection date: 14 September 2023
Overall effectiveness Outstanding
The quality of education Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding
Personal development Outstanding
Leadership and management Outstanding
Overall effectiveness at previous
inspection Not applicable
What is it like to attend this early years setting?
The provision is outstanding
Children are expertly guided in their development. The attentive staff place
children’s well-being at the centre of everything they do. Key persons have the
highest respect for both the children they care for, and their families. As such,
children demonstrate happiness and a strong sense of belonging to this
compassionate nursery community. From the moment staff greet children at the
nursery gate to the final wave goodbye, children are immersed in highly engaging
play and learning. Staff and children alike take great pleasure in nursery life.
Leaders establish abundant learning and development opportunities for all children,
including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They meticulously
plan the curriculum to provide a pioneering programme. Children learn to
understand and use multiple languages. They master advanced fine motor skills,
such as fastening clothes. They gain the knowledge to take care of the planet
sustainably. Subsequently, children have a strong start to their education that fully
prepares them for the future.
Children learn to manage their own feelings and behaviour with ease. They
demonstrate socially respectful behaviour from the start. This is because of the
considerate interactions staff have with them. Children know to ask their friend if
they may join in with them, before jumping on the swing to play. They recognise
their own needs. When a mathematics activity becomes too hard, they say, ‘I think
I may need a little help please.’
What does the early years setting do well and what does it
need to do better?
The leader’s passion for providing high-quality early education is compelling.
They share their love of the Montessori approach with children, families and
visitors. Parents and/or carers state they feel welcomed into the community.
They attend parent network groups and join staff for training. Parents recognise
the support they receive from the staff impacts positively on both their own and
their child’s well-being. All those who talk about the nursery comment that it is a
‘special place’.
Leaders have implemented a diverse curriculum that is precisely sequenced.
They ensure that the desired knowledge, skills, and behaviours are learned one
step at a time, at the pace of the individual child. Staff have a thorough
knowledge of the Montessori theory and implement it effectively alongside the
‘Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage.’ Key persons monitor
development termly and share their findings with parents. As a result, children
make commendable progress in all areas of learning.
Staff prepare the environment with great consideration to the learning they wish
children to secure. For example, the youngest children begin by exploring
transference of a liquid from open containers. Then they progress to the pouring
of wet and dry substances with a funnel. Finally, they use a range of equipment
to pour liquids without a funnel. Staff support learning at every stage. Therefore,
children confidently master each step. Children then use their acquired learning
to skilfully serve their own drinks, using glass receptacles, whenever they are
thirsty.
Children master the use of communication quickly because staff place high
importance on becoming adept at using languages. Children learn to use sign
language as well as learning vocabulary, phrases, and songs in both English and
French. The daily story sessions and continual back and forth conversations
about children’s interests encourages extensive vocabulary development. For
example, while completing a jigsaw, two-year-olds learn that the picture depicts
a woodpecker bird.
Children demonstrate sureness in their own unique abilities and are
exceptionally independent. They communicate freely, making suggestions to
develop their play or learning. Staff respond to their comments thoughtfully. As
such, children feel valued and in control of their own learning. Even the
youngest children make their own decisions about how they learn best. For
instance, they decide if they need ‘tidy hands or busy hands’ when listening to a
story. This supports their exemplary self-discipline.
Learning in the outdoor area is promoted by all staff. Children access the
enticing garden often. They learn how to climb, swing and play imaginative
games among the willow structures and plants. They explore flowers and small
creatures with interest. Staff encourage children to protect the environment by
helping to pick and recycle litter in a local park. Together, staff and children
reduce electric consumption by switching off lights in the nursery. Children learn
to conserve their world for future generations.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Leaders and staff have a thorough understanding of how to keep children
protected from harm. All staff have suitable safeguarding training. This helps them
to know how to identity and respond to any signs or symptoms of abuse or
neglect. Staff access a wealth of safeguarding information, such as the Manchester
Safeguarding Partnership 7-minute briefings. This supports their understanding of
local issues. Additionally, children learn to keep themselves safe. For example, staff
teach children to ask before they give one another hugs. This means children learn
how to ask for and give consent to physical touch. Children learn how to use tools,
such as hole punchers, scissors and kitchen equipment, safely.
Setting details
Unique reference number 2644828
Local authority Manchester
Inspection number 10306811
Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises
Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare
Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Day care type Sessional day care
Age range of children at time of
inspection 2 to 7
Total number of places 15
Number of children on roll 19
Name of registered person Manchester Montessori House Ltd
Registered person unique
reference number 2644827
Telephone number 07969654879
Date of previous inspection Not applicable
Information about this early years setting
Manchester Montessori House was registered in 2021. The nursery is situated in
Whalley Range, Manchester. It follows the Montessori approach to education. The
setting opens from Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm, term time only. It employs
five members of staff. Two staff hold qualified teacher status and one has a further
teaching qualification at level 8. Three staff hold appropriate early years
qualifications at level 3. The setting provides funded early years education for two-,
three- and four-year-old children.
Information about this inspection
Inspector
Lois Hulley
Inspection activities
This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19
pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the
provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider.
The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and
management of the setting.
The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of
the premises.
The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of
the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum.
Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection.
The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took
account of their views.
The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how
they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and
outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children’s learning.
The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during carpet
time.
The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability
of staff.
The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of
their views.
We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006
on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years
Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the
statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the
early years foundation stage.
Manchester Montessori House 