Blossoms Montessori Children's House

Independent choices, model rockets and garden exploration characterised daily life at Blossoms Montessori Children's House in March 2023. At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found that Montessori teaching supported excellent progress, with children showing considerable confidence.

At 27 Dunstans Grove, London SE22 0HJ, the nursery has capacity for 20 children aged 24 to 60 months. Its opening hours are 9am to 4pm on weekdays.

In March 2023, children selected resources from shelves and put them back after use. This made choosing and completing an activity part of their day. The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, Montessori methods shaped how those learning experiences were organised.

Number work included arranging numbered cans together, while cutting paper and forming letters gave children opportunities to practise precise hand movements. Books were accessible throughout the nursery, and story props helped children retell familiar tales. These were practical activities with a clear purpose.

Space interests also shaped learning in March 2023. Children returned to solar-system books and charts, remembered facts about planets and assembled model rockets from collage resources. Programming electronic toys prompted them to explain a sequence of movements. In the garden, cycling, climbing and searching for insects with magnifying glasses combined movement with investigation.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised the use of observations, assessments and close work with families to identify children's additional support needs, including special educational needs and disabilities.

Daily relationships mattered too. In March 2023, staff modelled considerate behaviour, and older children helped tired younger friends reach the lunch table. Children learning English shared words from their home languages with friends, giving their existing knowledge a place in group life.

Lunchtime also became a learning opportunity that March: illustrated place mats prompted conversations about food groups and healthy choices. Parents felt informed about their children's development and well prepared for the move to school.

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4pm, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. The afternoon finish is an important part of planning collection.

In March 2023, the nursery received funding for free early education for three- and four-year-olds. That is a dated funding position.

• Collection time. The nursery closes at 4pm on weekdays. Families need a working day and collection arrangement that fit that finish.
• Age range. Care is for children aged 24 to 60 months. This is a setting to consider beyond the baby stage.
• Funding and extras. At a visit, what funded attendance arrangements and charges for meals and consumables would apply to your child?

Blossoms suits families seeking Montessori care for children beyond the baby stage who can accommodate a 4pm finish. Its March 2023 assessment gives a strong basis for considering it: independent activity, purposeful language work and attentive support were central to that judgement. The clearest appeal is the combination of practical learning and children's growing independence.