Stepping Stones Playschool

Stepping Stones Playschool Gossops Green Community Primary, Kidborough Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 8HW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 December 2015 25 November 2008

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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

 Staff have a secure understanding of how to promote children's learning. They provide an interesting environment that children enjoy exploring.  The key-person system is effective. Children have strong relationships with their key persons, which supports their emotional well-being and helps them to settle quickly.  Managers and staff are committed to improving the provision. Since their last inspection, they have introduced online learning journals, which enable parents to contribute their thoughts and ideas to support their children's development.  All children, including those who require additional support, make good progress. Staff work closely with parents, other professionals and settings that children attend. They share information about children's development and work in partnerships to promote children's learning.  Staff provide challenging and interesting learning opportunities. Children engage

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This provision is good

happily in activities and play well alongside each other. They are learning to follow rules and behave well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff do not always give children enough time to think and respond to questions, express their ideas, explore and extend their creativity during play.  Staff do not always provide children with purposeful support to help them learn how to use technological equipment confidently.

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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

 give children time to make decisions, think, express their ideas and explore to strengthen their creativity  improve the support for children while using technological equipment to help them learn how to use it confidently.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor environment.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector took part in a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled a range of written documentation, including policies and children's development records.  The inspector spoke to parents to gain their feedback on their children's progress and staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Managers and staff have a good knowledge of child protection procedures and their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. Managers ensure staff implement risk assessments to minimise any hazards so the environment is suitable for children. Managers and staff understand the importance of evaluating their practice and identify areas for improvement. They welcome the views of parents and children, and consider their suggestions. Managers are supportive and work closely with staff to monitor the quality of their teaching and interactions with children. Managers encourage staff to attend training, which helps develop their practice and improve their knowledge. For example, after training about partnership working, staff involve parents fully in their children's learning. Managers regularly monitor individual children's progress and work with staff to plan appropriate next steps to support children's ongoing progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff regularly observe children's play and talk to them about their interests. They provide a good range of activities that seamlessly incorporate learning and engage children. For example, staff talked to children about a man going to space in a rocket and followed their interests following the discussion. Children use their creative skills to make rockets out of large cardboard boxes, learn the names of shapes, sing songs about space and look at books, which helped develop their knowledge of space. Children explore the outdoor area with confidence. They enjoy posting balls through guttering tubes and measuring how far their ball travels. Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their small physical skills, such as threading popcorn and exploring art and craft resources.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy and have very good relationships with their key persons and all staff at the setting. Staff work closely with parents from the beginning so that they have a good understanding of each child's needs. Staff teach children how to manage their feelings and talk to them about how their actions may affect others. Children learn about the wider community and, with the help from parents, celebrate their friends' families' festivals and traditions, such as Diwali. Staff promote children's healthy lifestyles. They encourage children to choose from a range of healthy snacks and prepare their own food. Children enjoy taking exercise in the outdoor area. They use a range of equipment, including bicycles and scooters, and learn to manage their safety as they climb and jump off crates.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those with special educational needs, are making good progress. Children are happy and settled in the setting; they are confident, communicate well and are keen to learn. Children gain a good range of skills that prepare them well for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY302404 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 827070 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 76 Name of provider Jacqueline Suzanne Tubb Date of previous inspection 25 November 2008 Telephone number 01293 542999

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Setting details

Stepping Stones Playschool registered in 2007. It operates from Gossops Green Community Primary School in Crawley, West Sussex. The setting is open during term time between 8.45am and 3.15pm from Monday to Thursday, and between 8.45am and 11.45am on Friday. There are 11 staff; of these, 10 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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

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