First Steps Nursery

First Steps Nursery First Steps Nursery, 25-27 Thanet Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 1UB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 November 2015 27 April 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Management and staff are confident with safeguarding procedures and aware of the action to take and who to contact should they have any concerns regarding children's safety and well-being.  Children are settled and display a sense of belonging. The secure settling-in procedures help them forge close bonds with their key person as well as the rest of the staff.  The staff work closely with parents, to keep them well informed of their child's progress and provide good quality continuous care and learning opportunities for each child.  Staff use a variety of effective strategies to communicate with all children. This enables them to develop their speaking and listening skills and make good progress in their communication and language development.  Children behave extremely well and demonstrate kindness, respect and politeness to adults and other children. Staff are good role models. They give children clear, positive

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This provision is good

instructions so that children understand expectations.  Staff confidently use the observation and assessment system to effective track children's ongoing progress. They make good use of the information to identify and plan for children's next steps for learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always make full use of every learning opportunity to extend children's learning and skills fully.  Children do not always have sufficient opportunities and resources to enable them to develop their skills in using technology in their play.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to strengthen staff's knowledge and skills, to enable them to make full use of all activities and experiences to extend children's learning  increase the opportunities for children to develop their skills in using technology.

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Inspection activities

 The inspectors sampled a range of documentation including children's assessment records, safeguarding procedures and staff training files.  The qualified teacher undertook a joint observation with an inspector.  The inspectors spoke to parents about their views on the service that they receive.  The inspectors observed staff interactions with children and spoke to them at appropriate times during the day.  The inspectors spoke to the managers about how they evaluate the service they provide and discussed their action plans.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff are deployed well throughout the day to keep children safe. The managers continually evaluate the service they provide and gather the views of staff, children and parents to help move the nursery forward. Thorough monitoring procedures track children's progress and help to address any gaps in learning and development effectively, so outcomes for all children are good. Strong partnerships between parents and outside specialists help staff meet all children's needs well. Leaders and managers promote high standards of teaching through providing good support and professional development opportunities for staff. They have recently appointed a qualified teacher to help move their practice forward and improve outcomes for children still further.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide a well-resourced, welcoming environment for all children. Babies and children come into the nursery ready to play and explore. For instance, babies investigate the environment, using furniture to help them stand to develop their physical skills. There is a good balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities. Staff provide children with educational programmes that cover all areas of learning and are suited to their needs. For example, children explore making marks, using a wide range of resources to practise their early writing skills. This helps them develop a strong interest in literacy. Staff support children's personal, social and emotional development. For example, they help children interact with friends and to share and take turns in the role-play areas. Children develop a good awareness of their own and others' backgrounds through a variety of interesting experiences, including stories and creative activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff encourage children to be independent and they praise their attempts and achievements. All children show high levels of confidence in their abilities. Staff plan an interesting range of experiences for children to participate in and make good use of the outdoors and neighbouring environments. Staff talk to children about the importance of having a healthy diet. They help children develop an understanding of how to have a healthy lifestyle. Staff offer children opportunities to play in the fresh air and learn about their local community. For example, they go on trips to the park as well as visits to the beach and local shops. Well-established procedures are in place to support babies and toddlers moving between rooms and for older children moving on to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including disabled children and those who have special educational needs, make good progress in relation to their initial starting points. Children are confident and keen to learn. They are well prepared for the next stage in their lives and eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127184 Local authority Kent Inspection number 825400 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 100 Number of children on roll 140 Name of provider Hazel Ann Warren Date of previous inspection 27 April 2011 Telephone number 01843 294256

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Setting details

First Steps Nursery registered in 1994 and operates in Margate, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 5.30pm for 50 weeks of the year. It is accredited to receive government funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three, and four years. There are 28 staff. Of these, 27 hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 or above. One member of staff holds Qualified Teacher Status.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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.

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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