Little Angels Montessori

Water wheels, story retelling and children helping younger friends with lunch: Little Angels Montessori's July 2023 day combined practical exploration with growing independence. This Orpington setting has 21 places in total, at St Nicholas Church on Leamington Avenue.

At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. Children attending then were aged two to four; the account below describes practice at that time.

In July 2023, children's interests shaped activities. In the garden, older children connected a funnel and tube to investigate moving water, while younger children explored a water wheel. These gave children different ways to investigate the same material. Outdoor play happened daily.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its everyday expression in July 2023 included counting, conversation, stories and opportunities to make marks. Children experimented with writing tools, and older children practised their names.

Story time extended beyond listening: children recalled and retold stories, while a lending library let them take books home to share. Staff introduced letter sounds and left thinking time after questions. Mathematics also came through ordinary routines, including counting rule cards and considering what changed when a card was removed.

In July 2023, children approached familiar staff when they needed help. Pictures showing the session's routine helped children understand what would happen next. Staff modelled courteous behaviour; children practised waiting, sharing and tidying, and older children offered younger ones help with lunch packaging.

Fresh fruit and water accompanied snack time in July 2023. Handwashing before food and learning about toothbrushing brought health habits into the day. Staff also attended signing training to develop another way of supporting children's speech.

The July 2023 inspection identified a need for more child-specific communication with parents, so families could understand their own child's learning rather than receive mainly general updates. That is the clearest improvement point for parents to weigh.

The address is St Nicholas Church, Leamington Avenue, Orpington, BR6 9QB.

In July 2023, opening hours were 9am to 3.30pm on weekdays. The setting received funding for children aged two, three and four at that time. These are dated operating details.

• Updates about your child. The July 2023 improvement point concerned individual communication. At a visit, ask how staff now explain your child's experiences and next steps.
• Practical exploration. July 2023 activities included garden water experiments and borrowing books for home. Those examples will appeal to families who value hands-on play and shared reading.

The July 2023 picture suits families who value practical play, language development and everyday independence. The strongest examples are concrete: investigating water, retelling stories and helping younger children. The need for more individual communication with parents was the counterweight to those July 2023 strengths.