The Cambridgeshire nursery where children ‘love to learn’ in a ‘home-from-home’ setting

The nursery has been rated ‘strong standard’ in all areas assessed by Ofsted in its latest inspection

A nursery has been rated ‘strong standard’ in all areas accessed by Ofsted. Flying Start Montessori in Fowlmere has been praised by inspectors for creating a “home-from-home” feeling at the setting where children “love to learn”.

The nursery, on Long Lane, underwent an Ofsted inspection in May 2026 and has been rated as at a ‘strong standard’ across six areas. These areas are: achievement, behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, children’s welfare and wellbeing, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance.

Inspectors praised the school, which caters to children aged between six months and five years old, for its “highly effective settling procedures” where “leaders and the staff team create a home-from-home feeling at the setting”.

The report, published on June 18, emphasises that “leaders have high expectations for all children” and “maintain regular, meaningful communication with parents”.

The report states: “All children feel relaxed and happy in the warm and inviting environment created by staff. They carefully consider what each individual child needs to feel at home. This promotes the wellbeing of all children. All children feel confident.”

Inspectors also praised leaders’ for having an “excellent overview of the well-designed, ambitious curriculum and ensure that staff implement it well”. This means that the pupils make “excellent progress” and are “well prepared for the next stage of learning, including starting school”.

The report adds: “Children at the setting love to learn. They are excited when staff join them at activities, questioning them and always wanting to know more.

“Older children delight as they are able to enter the ‘workstation’ independently, something which they have to earn. Children have secure relationships with all staff across the setting.”

A spokesperson for Flying Start Montessori said: ““It’s always great to have such positive feedback – it’s the staff, the children and our families which make the nursery what it is.

“Our success is down to the dedication and compassion of the staff. This, coupled together with the unfaltering trust that our parents have in us, means that we can work together to teach our children to be their best selves.”