Les Petites Etoiles Bilingual Montessori, Crouch Hill

English, French and Montessori practice gave this Crouch Hill setting a clear educational identity in September 2022. Montessori here meant child-led opportunities to revisit earlier learning and practise skills. Ofsted rated it Good, finding that children felt secure, developed independence and used both languages throughout the day. The nursery at 33 Crouch Hill, London N4 4AP now has capacity for 40 children aged from six months to five years.

These descriptions of daily practice date from 2022. Children chose resources that interested them, while practitioners joined their play and extended ideas. The result was sustained attention rather than a timetable dominated by adult-led tasks.

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the areas of learning and development that English nurseries must cover. In practice, that means building communication, physical development, relationships and early thinking through play and everyday routines. At this nursery in September 2022, a Montessori curriculum added repeated opportunities to build on earlier learning and practise skills.

Independence was equally practical. Older children managed more of their personal care, while younger children washed their hands and fed themselves. These routines made confidence part of ordinary care rather than a separate lesson.

Children could follow their own interests and select equipment freely. Practitioners played alongside them, adding challenge and helping them remain engaged for longer. One observed activity used fishing rods and plastic ducks in a water tray to develop hand-eye coordination and finger control; the equipped outdoor area supported larger movements.

Bilingual learning was woven through the day. Practitioners modelled English and French, switched between them and encouraged children to form words and simple sentences in both. This was not presented as a standalone language lesson: conversation accompanied children's play and broadened their understanding.

Books also had a visible place. Every room and the outdoor area had a book space, while a lending library allowed children to choose a title to take home.

Relationships were a strength in September 2022. A well-established key-person system helped children form close bonds, and families received daily information about care and learning. Staff also offered home visits before a child started, giving them a fuller picture of individual needs from the beginning.

Professional support for the team also shaped children's experience. In 2022, regular supervision and planned development helped practitioners improve their teaching, and staff could seek professional or personal guidance. This matters because a well-supported adult is better placed to notice a child's changing confidence, language or care needs.

Support extended to children needing extra help. Practitioners worked with families and other professionals to arrange targeted assistance. Safeguarding arrangements were effective in September 2022: staff understood signs of harm, received regular training, and managers checked staff suitability. Most practitioners then held paediatric first-aid qualifications.

Two improvement points matter to the overall picture. Babies did not always retain access to the resources that interested them while settling from home. Behaviour expectations were not always reinforced consistently during whole-group and transition periods for older children.

The setting's current record covers children from six months to five years and 40 places in total. It is at 33 Crouch Hill in Islington. Families should request current written terms for their required attendance pattern and any applicable charges directly from the nursery.

The September 2022 inspection recorded planned nutritious meals and snacks. The garden and indoor rooms were arranged so children could choose between resources, sustain an interest and develop physical control at different scales. Children also practised independence through routines such as washing their hands and feeding themselves.

• Settling for babies. Ask how familiar resources remain accessible during the transition from home, directly addressing the 2022 improvement point.
• Pre-school transitions. Discuss how practitioners now share and reinforce behaviour expectations during whole-group activities and changes between routines.
• Bilingual practice. Explore how English and French are balanced for a child at their present stage, including how progress in each language is communicated.

Les Petites Etoiles Crouch Hill suits families drawn to a Montessori setting where English and French are integrated into play rather than confined to occasional sessions. In 2022, children experienced secure relationships, purposeful independence and strong language support, alongside specific work needed in babies' settling resources and pre-school behaviour routines. A visit should concentrate on how those two points now work in daily practice.