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St. Thomas More Montessori Pre School

Ofsted: Good
(May 2022)
·St. Thomas More Catholic Primary School, South Road, SAFFRON WALDEN, CB11 3DW · Essex
Number of places
34 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2022
Local authority
Essex

About this day nursery

St. Thomas More Montessori Pre School, located in Saffron Walden, Essex, offers childcare on non-domestic premises and was registered in 2008. The nursery received a "Good" rating in its latest Ofsted inspection on 17th May 2022, maintaining a high standard of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

The setting follows the Montessori approach and provides a nurturing environment where children are happy and eager to learn, developing strong physical skills and independence. Staff are highly supportive, ensuring children are well-prepared for their transition to school.

The nursery also has a dedicated approach to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with a knowledgeable SEND coordinator who works closely with parents and external agencies. They provide funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children and operate during school term time.

What it's like

Children arrive happy and eager to enter the nursery and understand the daily routines. On arrival, they choose what they would like to have for lunch and find their name card. Children of all ages enjoy playing outdoors together. This helps younger children to make a smooth move into the pre-school room when the time comes. All children develop good physical skills.

Montessori approachGood quality educationStrong independenceSupportive staffOutdoor play

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)

Key facts

Opening hours

8.30am until 3.30pm, Monday to Friday

Term time / All Year

Term_time_only

Established

2008

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for St. Thomas More Montessori Pre School

Last inspected 17 May 2022

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Children arrive happy and eager to enter the nursery and understand the daily routines. On arrival, they choose what they would like to have for lunch and find their name card. Children of all ages enjoy playing outdoors together. This helps younger children to make a smooth move into the pre-school room when the time comes. All children develop good physical skills.

Inspector highlights

  • Children arrive happy and eager to enter the nursery and understand daily routines.
  • All children develop good physical skills, with older children assessing risks as they balance on raised lengths of wood.
  • Children confidently select their chosen activity from a rich range of resources.
  • Staff provide a broad curriculum that follows children's interests and builds on what they already know and can do.
  • The manager provides staff with a very good level of support to build on their knowledge and skills.
  • Older children are well-prepared for the move to school and are highly independent, confidently changing into outdoor footwear and applying sun protection cream.
  • The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff understanding their responsibilities to ensure children are safe.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported.
  • Staff work in partnership with parents to gather information about children's home life and experiences, and keep parents informed of progress.

Areas to develop

  • 1Enhance opportunities for children to hear and use their home language.
  • 2Develop partnerships with all other settings that children attend, to promote continuity in children's learning and development.
Inspection #10127396 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. The special educational needs coordinator is knowledgeable in her role and works in partnership with parents and outside agencies to agree specific strategies to support children's progress. Staff place a high priority on providing an inclusive environment to ensure all children can access the activities.

Outdoor space

Children of all ages enjoy playing outdoors together, developing good physical skills. Older children assess their own risks as they balance on raised lengths of wood. Recent training has had a positive impact on children's engagement in storytelling outdoors.

EAL / language support

The staff provide children with opportunities to learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others, reflecting the cultural backgrounds of children attending. However, they do not fully support children who speak English as an additional language to use their home language during their play, to enhance their speaking skills.

Inspection history

Date: May 2016

  • May 2022Good
  • May 2016Outstanding

Frequently asked about St. Thomas More Montessori Pre School

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