A Montessori nursery has upped its Ofsted rating from Inadequate to Good in little over a year.

Norman Court Montessori Day Nursery, in West Tytherley, was deemed Good in all areas in its inspection on April 26.

The glowing report said that "children arrive full of enthusiasm and are greeted warmly by the nurturing and kind staff team".

In keeping with the Montessori method, babies "learn to make independent choices in their play". The report says they "select their own instruments, shake them enthusiastically and choose their own nursery rhymes to sing, using the props available".

The inspectors also said: "All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in their learning.

"The provider has taken positive steps since the last inspection to improve the quality of the nursery."

These positive steps include recruiting additional staff, and there is also a new manager, of whom "staff speak positively", and say she "offers high levels of support that have helped to develop motivation and morale".

The nursery, which opened in 2013, was marked as Inadequate in all areas in May last year.

The May 2021 report slammed the nursery for its educational quality and personal development, saying that “any learning that takes place is incidental”.

However, the site said they were taking "swift steps" in rectifying the issues raised, and that they were "determined to turn this outcome around".

The nursery did turn the rating around - in September the same year, the Ofsted inspection improved to a Requires Improvement rating, before its most recent report.


READ MORE: 'Children’s health and wellbeing compromised' - Nursery rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted


Director Susan Hartley-Raven said: "I am thrilled and delighted with this wonderful outcome.

"Our dedicated team has worked so hard under the excellent management and guidance of Miss Debbie to take the nursery forward and achieve our Good rating.

"We are excited to move forward offering our wonderful hobbies and sunshine session programme and continuing to be a Home from Home nursery, nurturing our children to be the best version of themselves.

"The Montessori method of education prepares children for primary school as well as offering them skills for life. Our passion is real experiences blended with an eco emphasis in the Montessori context, this allows us to move forward into the future with sustainably at the our heart of our practice."

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