The Montessori Preschool, Christchurch Infants

Children balancing on wooden blocks and carefully handling rice and lentils give this preschool’s February 2025 experience its character: practical exploration, concentration and growing independence. The Montessori approach showed itself in children choosing resources and putting them back after use, rather than simply in the name.

At its 5 February 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made good progress, with appropriate referrals and professional support for those needing extra help. There were also two clear priorities for improvement.

The preschool has 30 places in total. Children attending in February 2025 were aged two to four; that is the age range at that visit.

In February 2025, Montessori learning included children taking responsibility for resources and everyday tasks. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care; here, its practical expression included learning through play, conversation and hands-on exploration.

Sensory activities required precision: children transferred rice and lentils using their fingers and explored materials with containers and funnels. Dice games introduced counting, while play introduced vocabulary about how much a container could hold. Paintbrushes, puzzles and beads exercised the small hand movements needed for writing.

Outdoor space brought a different challenge. In February 2025, children rode tricycles and constructed balancing routes with wooden blocks, giving them opportunities to test movement and make decisions about risk. A broken train track prompted discussion about how to reconnect it. Problem-solving was tangible.

In February 2025, staff expanded children’s vocabulary during play and modelled clearer pronunciation. Songs and stories added further opportunities to practise language. Adults also helped children handle disagreements and consider other people’s feelings.

Everyday independence extended to older children managing toileting and handwashing, disposing of rubbish and helping sweep up. Communication with families combined spoken handovers with an online app, including ideas about toilet training and healthy eating.

The February 2025 inspection identified weaknesses in staff supervision for professional development and uncertainty about staff responsibilities during routines, including meals. These findings matter because children need consistent help during ordinary transitions as well as planned activities.

The address is Christchurch Infant School, Addiscombe Road, Christchurch, BH23 2AE. In February 2025, opening hours were 8am to 4pm on weekdays during term time, and the preschool offered government-funded places. These are the arrangements at that date.

• Staff development. February 2025 findings called for supervision that better develops individual staff knowledge and skills. Progress on this is a useful discussion point when visiting.
• Consistency during routines. Staff responsibilities were sometimes unclear in February 2025, including at meals. Consider how the preschool now organises adult support during these parts of the day.
• Attendance and funded costs. The February 2025 offer was term-time provision with government-funded places. Which current booking patterns and arrangements for funded-hours extras would apply to your family?

For families drawn to practical Montessori learning, the February 2025 picture offers concrete reasons for interest: careful sensory work, everyday independence and outdoor balancing challenges. It suits parents who value children doing things for themselves. The Good judgement is balanced by specific concerns about staff development and routine organisation, both worth weighing alongside the learning experience.