First Steps Day Nursery (Stone) LLP

First Steps Day Nursery (Stone) LLP 53b High Street, STONE, Staffordshire, ST15 8AD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 February 2016 27 September 2013

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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

 Very good teaching and well planned, focused activities help children to make good progress in all areas of learning. Staff engage children and challenge their thinking very well. Children are very well prepared for the next stage in their learning and for school.  Staff know children very well through their observations and from information obtained from parents. Staff assess children's progress effectively and close any gaps in their learning quickly.  Children are very happy and settled in the friendly, family environment of the nursery. Children's health and well-being are given high priority. They enjoy healthy snacks and develop good social skills as they play.  The well-motivated staff work as a strong team to monitor and evaluate the provision effectively. There is a very good drive for continuous improvement and a clear vision for the future.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Links with other early years providers are not yet well established enough to enable staff to share ideas and best practice effectively.  Staff have yet to find successful ways to guide all parents, so that a shared approach to children's learning is fully embraced.

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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

 strengthen links with other local early years providers and share ideas and best practice on a regular basis  explore further ways to involve all parents in the support of their children's learning, both at home and in the nursery.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager ensures that staff understand and implement the comprehensive policies and procedures. Staff supervise children vigilantly and the premises are secure. The manager and the deputy manager carry out regular observations in order to assess staff practice and target improvements. They also receive support from a local authority improvement advisor. Staff use information about individual children's progress to collate data about the progress of specific groups of children. This helps them to identify gaps in learning and to plan how to close these quickly. Ongoing professional development is well planned and documented, and staff share their knowledge with each other. Staff work effectively with other professionals to support children with additional needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a very secure knowledge of how children learn through play. They develop children's language and vocabulary very effectively during their play. Children benefit from frequent, focused, one-to-one activities with their key person. This helps them to achieve the next steps in their learning which are carefully planned. Two-year-old children really enjoy creating collages. They watch the glue drip onto their hands and manage the spreaders well. They are curious about all the activities and are very enthusiastic to try everything. Children are imaginative as they pretend to make pizzas with the play dough. They talk about their favourite toppings and use the tools well. Staff help children to recognise letters and sounds. Children copy the letters in their names onto paper and by forming them with their fingers in dry sand. Children learn to develop their grip and they practise using zips. This helps them gain the skills required to hold a pencil correctly and

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children form close friendships and have excellent relationships with the caring staff. Their needs are very well met and staff communicate daily with parents so they find out about children's changing needs. Children learn about healthy eating and lifestyles. They enjoy an activity to show how germs can spread if they do not wash their hands properly. Each child has a different colour glitter put on their hands. They follow the trails of glitter around the room so they can see what each child has touched. They discover that washing their hands without soap will not remove the glitter or germs. Children enjoy daily outdoor play and visit the local park and shops. Children's behaviour is very good and this is managed skilfully by staff. Children are taught to share and take turns as they play. Staff teach children to have respect for each other's views and cultures and to gain independence in their self-care. There are good links with the schools children move on to.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

This process is managed well and children feel secure in their moves.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are making very good progress. They are learning to be independent and to develop the skills they need in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY367189 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 1028681 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 12 Name of provider First Steps Day Nursery (Stone) LLP Date of previous inspection 27 September 2013 Telephone number 01785 811405

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Setting details

First Steps Day Nursery (Stone) LLP was registered in 2001. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 3 to 6. One member of staff holds Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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