Stanley House School

Step by Step Day Nursery Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 129055 Inspection date 27/01/2011 Inspector Pamela Paisley

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Setting address Monument Gardens, Benden House, Lewisham, London, SE13 6PY Telephone number 0208 297 5070 Email Type of setting Childcare on non-domestic premises to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as

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you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the setting

Step By Step Day Nursery opened in 1994. The nursery operates from a converted community hall in Lewisham near the town centre. Children mainly come from the local area. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.00pm throughout the year. All children share access to a secure enclosed outdoor play area. The nursery is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of 54 children in the early years age group at any one time. There are currently 46 children in the early years age group on roll and the nursery receives funding for free early education for 22 children. The nursery employs 19 members of staff, 14 of whom hold an early years qualification and five members of staff are working towards a qualification.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are making good progress in their learning and development given their capabilities and starting points. Children have their individual needs met well by staff who work in close partnership with parents and carers. Most records are well documented, although an accurate record of visitors is not always kept. Overall children are developing good skills for the future but are not always given opportunities to develop their independence in some areas of learning. A welcoming and inclusive service is provided for children. Staff work well as a team and are committed to providing a stimulating well balanced programme. Children are helped to understand the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles, although individual hand washing facilities are not always provided. The nursery is committed to continuous improvement and plans for the future are well targeted to bring about further improvement to the provision and outcomes for children.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 provide more opportunities for children to serve themselves at meal times and help themselves to drinks in order to promote an enhance their independence  improve washing facilities for children to prevent cross infections  improve the recording of visitors on the premises to clearly show arrival and departure times. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Most records, policies and procedures are well documented and ensure that the needs of all children are met, although records of visitors are not always accurately kept. Regular risk assessments are carried out to minimise risks to children. Staff have a good understanding of how to protect children, and recognise that this is their first priority. They are vigilant and know the appropriate procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child. The nursery is organised flexibly and creatively so children can choose to access areas and resources offering different activities to extend their play and develop their independence. Children have easy access to a wide and varied range of good quality toys and play materials. Children are cared for by qualified and experienced staff who are well deployed so that they receive good adult support at all times. Staff are strongly committed to inclusion and meet children's individual needs well.

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the early years provision

The nursery has addressed all recommendations from their previous inspection to ensure that children are well cared for. The nursery regularly monitor and evaluate the service they provide to maintain continuous improvement. They have future plans to re-organise the nursery so that children are able to experience outdoor play independently. Parents and staff share what they know about each child's interests, achievements and learning and work together to ensure that each child's learning and development needs are met effectively. Parents have good opportunities to contribute to their child's learning, for example, by sharing the assessment and recording of their child's progress at regular parent evenings. During the inspection, parents gave very positive feedback about the service provide. They are very happy with the care and education their children receive. The nursery has developed strong links with local schools where children will

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the early years provision

attend to ensure children are continually supported in their learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals. They enjoy attending the nursery and have a positive attitude to learning. Staff use their good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage to plan and provide a wide range of stimulating activities and experiences across all areas of learning. Observations and assessments are used effectively to plan for children's next steps of learning. Children enjoy healthy meals and snacks throughout the day which are freshly prepared on the premises and take into account their individual dietary needs. Children engage in a good range of physical activities that help to keep them healthy. Music and movement is timetabled daily so that the children can develop their physical skills through dancing, balancing, jumping and walking. Children have regular access to large play equipment to promote their large motor skills. The nursery has recently introduced a weekly gym session to promote children's

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and outcomes for children

understanding about how exercise helps them to stay healthy. Children have good This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 opportunities to paint, use modelling dough and a wide variety of different media to create collages and pictures and sand and water play is very accessible. Children enjoy using play food with pots, pans and utensils to create their favourite meals in the home corner. Children enjoy using their imaginations in role play and sometimes take on family roles or those of familiar people in the community, like hairdressers and doctors. Children are becoming very independent and older children can dress themselves independently and manage their own personal hygiene, although they do not have regular opportunities to serve themselves at meal times and pour their own drinks when they are thirsty. Children are developing good relationships with each other. They often play in small groups and

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and outcomes for children

understand the need to share and take turns when playing.

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and outcomes for children

Older children can write their own names and delight in coping letters of the alphabet. Children have good access to different media for writing and drawing and listen with enjoyment and respond with excitement to stories, songs and rhymes and often sit and look at books together in the book corner. Staff encourage the use of language through questioning the children about what they liked best about the story and encourage them to ask their own questions and make comments about the characters in the book. A book club has just been introduced to develop their language, speaking and listening skills. They can take books home and enjoy them with their parents who are encouraged to get involved in their children's learning by reporting back to the nursery about what their child enjoyed about the book. Good daily routines and explanations help children understand that washing their hands after visiting the toilet and before

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and outcomes for children

meals reduces the risk of passing on germs; although they do not always have access to individual hand washing facilities after painting and other messy activities.

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and outcomes for children

Children have opportunities to problem solve and develop their reasoning and numeracy skills through matching games, puzzles and learning names of shapes. Older children are able to count up to 10 and beyond and can recognise numbers in print. Children are developing a growing awareness of the wider world as they learn about a wide variety of traditions and beliefs and celebrate a good range of different festivals throughout the year. Parents are encouraged to come into the nursery to share their own cultural traditions with children and they have access to a broad range of resources, play opportunities and activities, which reflect diversity and acknowledge cultural differences. Children have good opportunities to go to the local library to borrow books for the nursery. They visit local shops and go on trips to museums and the theatre. Children are learning about the use of technology through programmable toys and a computer to support them in their

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and outcomes for children

learning. Children learn to take responsibility for keeping themselves safe as they practise fire drills. The baby room is well organised providing good opportunities for babies to explore and feel secure in their surroundings. They receive lots of cuddles and one to one attention from staff who know them well. Young babies sleep in cots, and suitable sleep arrangements are provided for older children who need a rest. There is good interaction with babies and staff ensure they are continually spoken to, which encourages the use of language. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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Early Years Foundation Stage

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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Stage

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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