Maynard Montessori at Stebbing

Glass jugs, growing plants and children choosing their own work give Maynard Montessori at Stebbing its character. This is a Montessori preschool where independence means doing useful things: selecting activities, caring for living things and learning to manage everyday tasks with adult guidance. Its purpose-built classroom stands in the grounds of Stebbing Primary School, giving outdoor learning a concrete place in the day.

At its 11 October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding overall and across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. Children investigated woodland birds, worked with numbered rods and prepared food using real utensils: practical learning with responsibility.

There are 30 places in total, with the current age range running from two to five years. Children learn in a mixed-age environment, with older children acting as models for younger ones. Morning, afternoon and all-day sessions operate during term time, with a minimum attendance of twice a week.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the required basis for learning and care, covering communication, physical development, relationships, early literacy and mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. Montessori sits alongside that foundation: children choose accessible activities that interest them, while adults guide their next steps. Choice is part of the organisation of learning, rather than simply free time between adult-led tasks.

Accessible materials and mixed-age learning allow children to choose work at their own pace and cooperate across ages, with adults supporting individual development.

In October 2024, children moved balls with ladles, cut flowers and handled glass jugs. Returning trays after use and helping younger children connected hand control with responsibility for equipment and others.

In October 2024, children ordered rods by number, compared lengths and checked their answers. Comparing tyres and conker-shell textures gave vocabulary a practical purpose: describing visible and tactile differences.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor choice is substantial here. Children can use the garden or covered area throughout the day, except when conditions make it unsafe. Small hills, climbing trees and a mud kitchen provide different kinds of movement and imaginative play; the growing garden brings flowers, fruit and vegetables into children's experience of caring for living things.

Forest School, hands-on learning in woodland, takes place in the forest school area at Stebbing Primary School. Sessions connect outdoor experiences with learning in the classroom and include care for nature and practical survival skills. The setting also gives children opportunities to care for ducks, chickens and other pets. These are concrete responsibilities rather than nature being confined to pictures and stories.

In October 2024, the herb garden and extracting sunflower seeds with tweezers linked growth, reuse and hand control. Ladders and a collaborative obstacle course developed balance; investigating a woodland bird call encouraged children to reconsider an initial explanation.

In October 2024, parent visitors introduced farrier work and Turkish words, widening children's experience of work and culture. Coffee mornings, mini concerts and fun days also give families opportunities to participate.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person to help establish familiar routines and support the family through separation. Planning is individual and undertaken termly, with observations and photographs forming an ongoing learning journey. Parents using the online system can see the activities that have caught their child's attention, making it easier to connect conversations at home with what happens at preschool.

Weekly updates cover preschool activities through the education portal and private Facebook group, alongside regular bulletins. Access to the online sharing platform is part of the Integrated Montessori Package (IMP), the daily package covering meals, consumables and additional services and activities. Families choosing funded hours without that package do not receive online photographs, observations or messaging through the platform. The communication arrangement therefore needs to be considered alongside the childcare bill.

Settling has a defined charge structure. The Transition Charge covers up to two settling sessions and two uniform items; it does not apply when a child already eligible for Early Learning for 2-Year-Olds takes those sessions within their funding entitlement, and uniform is then a separate purchase option. Uniform is preferred rather than compulsory.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Concerns about additional needs are shared with the SENCO, who can undertake further observation and assessment before support is discussed with parents. Families are supported through the Education, Health and Care Plan process, including collaboration with outside agencies where a plan already exists, and through applications for SENIF financial support. Sharing a child's needs early allows this planning to begin before attendance.

At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received support that helped them make the progress they were capable of. Current staff arrangements include enhanced DBS checks and regularly refreshed safeguarding and paediatric first-aid training.

Lunch is home-cooked food supplied by Stebbing Primary School, while parents contribute healthy snacks for sharing. The allergy policy involves checking a dietary list before snack sessions and checking ingredients from original packaging, and prohibits food or drink containing nuts or nut ingredients.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is School House, High Street, Stebbing, Dunmow, CM6 3SH, within the primary school's grounds. Opening hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. Three booking patterns are offered: Morning from 8.30am to 12.30pm, Afternoon from 12.30pm to 3.30pm and All Day from 8.30am to 3.30pm.

Attendance is at least twice weekly, with flexible session combinations on request. The nursery operates for 38 weeks, closing on public holidays and for up to three staff-training days. Families need holiday cover and arrangements that accommodate the afternoon finish.

Places are allocated by term. Reducing sessions or leaving early requires written notice two months before the next term starts, subject to the contract's deadlines; fees remain payable during the notice period. For unexpected illness, parents or nominated emergency contacts must be able to collect a child within 30 minutes of a call.

Funding and Paid Extras

Both 15- and 30-hour funding are accepted, delivered over 38 weeks rather than stretched across the year. The named entitlements include Universal Funded Early Education Entitlement, Extended Funded Early Education Entitlement and 2 year old Funded Early Education Entitlement. Tax-Free Childcare is also accepted. Eligibility remains a separate matter from the nursery accepting the funding.

Private hours attract an hourly charge plus the IMP daily charge. The package includes lunch, nappies and wipes, together with additional Montessori activities and services; parents also supply shared snacks and suitable outdoor clothing. Summer clothing requirements include sun hats and sun cream. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, with the charge structure explained on its fees and funding page.

For funded hours, meals and consumables are charged separately through the voluntary IMP or selected items and mini-packages. Families can opt out and provide lunch and consumables themselves, but the nursery's terms exclude Forest School, the school trip and online-platform access from that arrangement. Participation in some other specialist activities may also be restricted. The EYFS provision remains included; the paid package cannot replace that required foundation.

School transition arrangements begin after a child's school place has been confirmed, with local school staff visiting towards the end of attendance. Being based on Stebbing Primary School's site does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Term-time timetable. Morning, afternoon and all-day sessions end by 3.30pm, with attendance required at least twice a week. The holiday calendar and collection time need to fit the family's working arrangements.
• Funded package choice. Opting out of the IMP changes meals, consumables, online communication and participation in Forest School and trips. During a visit, discuss the practical day your child would have under each option and request a written quotation for that choice.
• Montessori fit and settling. Activities are chosen by children within a prepared, mixed-age environment. A visit with your child is required before applying, giving the family a chance to discuss how the key person would support their start.
• Food allergies. Shared snacks operate under ingredient checks and a policy excluding nuts and nut ingredients. Allergy-affected families should confirm current handling arrangements before attendance.

Maynard Montessori at Stebbing suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions as well as all-day attendance during term time. Its strongest combination is practical independence and outdoor learning: accessible materials indoors, growing and animal care outside, and woodland experiences on the primary-school site.

The October 2024 Outstanding judgement supports its educational appeal. Package choices affect food, supplies, communication and activities, making the term-time timetable and funded extras central to the decision.