A NURSERY where children have tea parties and learn about the life cycle of ducklings has been given glowing praise in its first watchdog inspection.

Barfield Montessori Day Nursery, just outside of Great Bardfield, received top marks from Ofsted in its first inspection since it was registered in December 2020.

It detailed that “children show exceedingly high levels of confidence and independence”.

It also added that children ask lots of questions, showing their high levels of curiosity and their eagerness to learn, as well as praising their imagination skills through various resources.

The report said: “Children create 'tea parties' using real, child-sized crockery cups and saucers, making their drinks using water from the dispenser and sit down before declaring 'ahhh, a lovely cup of tea'.”

Additionally, it reported that babies are consistently working above expected levels of development, with one-year-olds use small beakers without lids to drink from, and that older children independently recognise when staff have not filled water jugs up before lunch and do this themselves.

It also added: “Older children immerse themselves in more physically demanding play as they challenge themselves to balance and climb between different sized tree trunk stumps.”

The report also then went into detail about the opportunities children have to learn about the world, in particular through the life of ducklings.

It said: “They eagerly show visitors their ducklings, which they incubated and watched hatch in the nursery.

“Children are exceedingly gentle while handling the ducklings, holding them securely in their hands, and show their excellent awareness of what the ducklings need to thrive and grow.”

“Staff encourage children to explore and feel the now clean duck eggshells to develop their understanding of life cycles.”

The staff got top praise throughout the report, with morale, intuition and quality of teaching just some of the details mentioned.

The nursery said in a statement: “It was truly exceptional judgment for Bardfield Montessori as they announce their outstanding provider judgment following their first inspection in March 2022. 

“Managing director Molly Easton would like to personally thank all the staff who ensure every child, and their family have truly extraordinary experiences throughout their time at Bardfield Montessori.”

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