Ofsted gives the Nursery its top Outstanding grade

As parents we hope that all our children will come home with a glowing end of term report, full of A’s and positive comments; it makes us feel we’ve done our job well. So you can imagine the pride we all felt as governors, staff and parents when Torah Montessori Nursery received the results of the recent Ofsted inspection. Representatives from the government watchdog spoke with parents as well as staff, viewed a range of policy and planning documents, and observed activities both indoors and out. With four possible categories in which the nursery could be placed, it was gratifying to have confirmed for us that the nursery is “Grade 1: Outstanding”.

In particular the inspector noted that, “Staff provide excellent quality teaching, asking appropriate questions and listening to the children in order to encourage and stimulate their learning.” She further felt that the teaching staff and management provided highly effective educational programmes that stimulated the pupils across the curriculum. She noted the strong development in mathematics and language. And she complimented the nursery on the use Montessori materials to enhance learning.

The inspector was extremely impressed by the individuality of the assessment carried our at the nursery, noting, “Staff very effectively use a process of observation, assessment and activity planning to provide exciting challenges, appropriate to the children’s individual needs, interests and abilities.” The use of online tracking documents and learning logs was praised, as was the peer observation between members of staff to ensure that the quality of teaching remains consistently high.

Social and emotional growth is important, and the inspector stated that, “Staff promote children’s health and safety very efficiently, encourage them to behave well and support their readiness for school through a wide range of activities.”

The physical development of the children was described as “Excellent” both in terms of outdoor opportunities and motor skills. Particular reference was made to the weekly yoga sessions for coordination.

The relationship between the three main elements of the school community — namely the parents, the children and the teachers — was praised: “Staff safeguard children’s welfare exceptionally well, work closely in partnership with parents, and drive improvement through astute and well-targeted plans to raise the quality of the nursery provision even further.”

The commitment of staff was noted and the opportunities for personal staff development highlighted, with staff having attended paediatric first-aid training, a healthy eating course, and safeguarding workshops.

The inspector awarded Torah Nursery a Grade 1 because: “The outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all the children exceptionally well. This ensures that the children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning”.

“There is an exceptionally stimulating, well-resourced and welcoming environment in which the children are happy, relaxed and secure”.

Mazel Tov to all concerned. May you go from strength to strength, Torah Montessori Nursery.