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The Montessori House

Ofsted: Needs attention·
5.0(12 Google reviews) ·The Old School, School Road, Wantage, OX12 8PN · Oxfordshire
Number of places
42 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2026
Local authority
Oxfordshire

About this early years setting

The Montessori House Ltd is a childcare setting on non-domestic premises in Wantage, Oxfordshire, registered with Ofsted on 2nd October 2024. The nursery provides care for children aged 0-4 years, with a total of 42 places.

Operating all year round, it welcomes children five days a week, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The dedicated staff team prioritises understanding each child's individual needs, offering particular support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) by making timely adaptations to ensure they can access all provisions.

The setting focuses on building positive relationships with families, which helps secure regular attendance and allows staff to respond to individual care needs. They thoughtfully plan settling-in sessions and provide a gradual induction to help children feel safe, secure, and confident in their new environment.

Our ethos

The Montessori House Ltd. is founded on the renowned Montessori approach, aiming to foster independence and a love for learning in a 'home away from home' environment. Their philosophy centres on self-directed learning and holistic child development, preparing children for life.

What it's like

There are weaknesses in how leaders ensure that staff understand how to deliver a sequenced curriculum to a consistently high standard. The outdoor environment also does not provide enough stimulating opportunities for children to achieve in all areas of learning, except their physical development. While children enjoy the activities on offer, staff do not consistently plan learning or target teaching that builds on children’s knowledge and skills over time, meaning children do not achieve their full potential.

High expectationsNurturing environmentPersonalised supportStrong parent partnershipsManaged risks

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured by age groups across three developmental stages spanning from birth up to six years. Each age group has the option of a monthly or an annual payment plan.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Key facts

Opening hours

08:00am - 18:00pm

Age range

0-6 years

Term time / All Year

All_year

Registered with Ofsted

2024

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Needs attention

Last inspected Feb 2026

Headline: Needs attention

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementNeeds attention
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted report for The Montessori House

Last inspected 16 February 2026 · Sonia Panchal

Safeguarding effective

Actions the provider must take

  • ensure that all staff receive coaching and training opportunities to improve their teaching skills by 20/03/2026
  • strengthen the sequencing of the indoor and outdoor curriculum to enable staff to target teaching effectively, to embed and build on children's learning securely by 20/03/2026

What it's like to attend

There are weaknesses in how leaders ensure that staff understand how to deliver a sequenced curriculum to a consistently high standard. The outdoor environment also does not provide enough stimulating opportunities for children to achieve in all areas of learning, except their physical development. While children enjoy the activities on offer, staff do not consistently plan learning or target teaching that builds on children’s knowledge and skills over time, meaning children do not achieve their full potential.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders and staff are effective role models, setting high expectations for children's behaviour and attitudes to learning.
  • Children show great pride when praised for resilience and independent task completion.
  • Positive relationships with families are in place, ensuring regular attendance and individual care needs are met.
  • Thoughtfully planned settling-in sessions help children feel safe, secure, and confident.
  • Children have safe opportunities to take manageable risks, developing confidence, resilience, and coordination.
  • Staff encourage healthy eating habits and regular handwashing, with parents noting the positive impact on children's learning and wellbeing.

Areas to develop

  • 1Children, except those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not consistently build on their prior learning over time to achieve their full potential.
  • 2The curriculum is largely activity-led and does not consistently build enough on what children already know and can do.
  • 3Staff do not plan consistently for children's learning in a clear enough sequence to help them to secure new learning effectively.
  • 4The outdoor curriculum does not reflect children's interests, needs or abilities effectively enough.
  • 5There is insufficient supervision of staff and monitoring of staff's delivery of the curriculum.
  • 6Leaders do not accurately identify areas for individual staff's development or suitably coach or mentor them to improve their teaching skills.
  • 7Leaders have fewer opportunities to address areas of development, such as creating an outdoor curriculum that ignites children's imagination and creativity across the areas of learning.
  • 8Leaders are yet to strive to deliver the best experiences for children, particularly outdoors.
Inspection #10381238 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The staff team demonstrates a thorough understanding of each child's individual care needs, especially valuable for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those facing additional barriers to their learning. Leaders and staff work closely with parents and carers to support the needs of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), making adaptations in a timely way so that children are able to access the provision.

Outdoor space

The outdoor curriculum does not effectively reflect children's interests, needs, or abilities. Younger children can be unsure of what to do in the garden due to limited activities beyond static large equipment, and the outdoor environment does not consistently offer stimulating opportunities for achievement in all learning areas, except for physical development. Children do, however, have safe opportunities for manageable risks, such as climbing large equipment.

Google Reviews of The Montessori House

5.0
(12 Google reviews)
Lina Poznanske
a year ago

Obehi is a highly experienced and children-led Montessori teacher. She has promoted our daughter's independence, confidence and her desire for exploration since day one of attending The Montessori House. Obehi has also supported and guided our daughter to develop her language, motor and coordination skills by introducing her to various interesting activities. Obehi has provided a warm and nurturing environment and supported our daughter's social and emotional development through play. Obehi's communication skills are impeccable, she always keeps parents well informed and she's always happy to help and provide advice if needed to further support children in their home environment. Therefore, we've made the best decision 2 years ago and I'm truly grateful for all Obehi's input as now we have a confident and independent child who absolutely thrives.

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Abhilash S.M
2 years ago

Words wouldn't do justice to the stellar role Mrs Obehi has played in mentoring my son and being his first guru. The way she interracts with the children and the parents are extremely professional and commendable. I was genuinely worried about how my son would get along with the cultural shift from moving from India to the UK. Mrs Obehi (or Obehi miss as my son calls her) took paramount care to enable him to blend in well. Its been about a month and a half and he still misses his teacher - that is the sort of impact she has on him. Thank you so much, Mrs Obehi.

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Mabel Adjiri
3 years ago

Mrs.Obehi is a very sweet calm person but has complete control of groups of children which all are very happy in her care. She looked after my son for over a year and always does fun activities and plays with a fantastic range of learning toys. She has also taken my son on lots of great days out (with my permission), ranging from picnics to trips to the library, etc. I found her highly reliable and professional at all times. My son loves going to her all the time because she loves children and makes them feel so comfortable. I would definitely recommend Mrs.Obehi for both full time or part time parents or guardians who are in need of childcare for their kids. You would see the massive improvement on your kids behaviour, and learning pattern. Thank you so much for helping my Son in developing. You are a great asset to the Montessori House. Appreciate all you did for my son.

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Nathanael Moxon
2 years ago

I'm very proud to say my son Toby was the first 'baby' at The Montessori House. We first met Obehi when the Montessori House was originally opening, and we were looking for a childminder to look after our boy from 9 months old. I don't have to explain to other parents reading this the innumerable concerns associated with finding someone to take care of your pride and Joy. In every possible way, Obehi has exceeded our expectations. Toby has been happy to go to school from day one, he walks in with a smile on his face and comes home with big smiles. Every day he enjoys a full range of tasks, activities and interactions and every day we have a summary of key care points, followed by weekly updates of what he's been up to. This has been consistent for the 2+ years Toby has been at the Montessori House. Toby has developed with an exceptionally high academic ability, from problem solving to language, and wonderful social skills. Obehi is really an extension of our family, and one we're immensely proud of. If you have the opportunity to place your child at the Montessori House do not hesitate, you couldn't place your children in better, or safer care.

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Face-lift Face alive
2 years ago

Intact I am out of words, if I say Mrs Obehi is good I think it is an understatement. People always say someone is good but this one is very good, I remember very well when my son stated at montessori house, very quiet shy and couldn't talk, I watched him grow into a confident smart young man, very polite, organised, clean, I wish there was a primary school so he doesn't have to come. All I can say is thankyou Mrs Obehi to have been part of man son development.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for The Montessori House. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: March 2025

  • February 2026Needs attention
  • March 2025Requires improvement

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