Stepping Stones Nursery

Stepping Stones Nursery 12 Stoney Road, COVENTRY, CV1 2NP

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 February 2016 25 November 2009

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The quality of teaching is excellent and staff have a superb understanding of how young children learn. Staff have extremely high expectations for what children can achieve. Learning experiences are innovative and inspiring. Children are highly motivated, confident and extremely eager to learn.  Staff regularly observe children and make accurate assessments of what they know and can do. The active involvement of parents and staff's comprehensive knowledge of each child lead to excellent planning for future learning.  The strong management team is highly successful in supporting staff who work directly with children. Rigorous monitoring systems are in place to ensure accurate self- evaluation, leading to secure, continuous improvement.  Staff continue to be highly motivated to extend their knowledge and skills. Regular training on safeguarding children is given a very high priority.  Staff attend extensive training courses and implement new knowledge extremely well.

p.1

This provision is outstanding

Their superior teaching skills and experience help them to support children's language development most effectively. Children with English as an additional language have many opportunities to use their first language in their play and learning.  Children are very happy, settled and emotionally secure. All children are greeted with warmth by staff who clearly relish caring for them. Staff are highly sensitive towards children's individual needs and the relationships they share are excellent.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 review the implementation of the planned changes to make all policies and procedures even more parent friendly and evaluate the impact on children's outcomes.

p.2

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 joint observations with the manager.  The inspector held meetings with the providers and the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working in the setting.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents and took account of their views as well as the written views of other parents.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Recruitment and selection procedures are robust. The management team has devised highly effective tools for monitoring the effectiveness of all aspects of the provision. The team has recently identified additional strategies to enhance the information provided to parents. Professional development and training are given extremely high priority. This includes promptly accessing training to improve knowledge of recent government publications and requirements. Parents share very positive views about the provision. They comment on the professionalism of all staff's and management's approaches to always seeking to improve.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff continually undertake detailed observations of the children's learning. Staff use an exceptional range of methods to ensure parents can regularly converse and share their knowledge of their children's learning at home. This information is then effectively used to complete precise assessments and plan activities that successfully challenge every child. Staff take all opportunities to enhance children's vocabulary and introduce them to new, less familiar language. For example, while older children participate in scientific experiments, they learn to use technical words, such as spillage and test tube. Young children are superbly supported to experience different textures and use their senses. Staff adapt innovative activities to encourage children who dislike getting messy to ensure they can experience similar learning activities to that of their peers. One example of this is when staff provide one tray of shaving foam that children can directly touch. They also

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

provide another tray covered in cling film that children can touch and make marks in but not directly feel the foam.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The quality of care children receive is excellent. Staff visit children and their parents in their own home prior to starting at the nursery. Parents and children are extremely well prepared for a change of room and key person as they progress through the nursery. Parents are invited for a social evening to get to know the new staff and the room their child will be moving on to. Children's good health is promoted extremely well. All ages of children effectively learn how to attend to their self-care needs. One example of this is babies are encouraged to look into a mirror to help them begin to learn how to wipe their own noses. The highly stimulating outdoor area is thoroughly enjoyed by the children.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are making excellent progress in all areas of their development. Their learning continually builds successfully on what they already know and can do. Children develop outstanding skills for future learning and in readiness for the move on to school. They demonstrate strong skills in perseverance and pay attention to tasks as they lead their own learning and become highly inquisitive learners. Children's learning is effectively tracked by staff who swiftly plan focused activities to overcome any identified gaps.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY321490 Local authority Coventry Inspection number 849105 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 65 Number of children on roll 93 Name of provider Smarteenies Ltd Date of previous inspection 25 November 2009 Telephone number 02476 222287

p.4

Setting details

Stepping Stones Nursery was registered again in 2006. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 3 to level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 8.15am until 5.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. It supports children who speak English as an additional language, disabled children and those with special educational needs.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

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

p.5