Footsteps Day Nursery

Footsteps Day Nursery 20 Humbleyard, Norwich, Norfolk, NR5 9BN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 April 2016 22 July 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 All staff are highly skilled and sensitive in helping children form secure emotional attachments and provide an exceptionally strong base for children's developing independence and exploration.  Managers show a strong focus and passionate drive to provide excellent care and inspirational learning to children. Every aspect of the provision is superbly monitored, which enables them to exceed the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.  Staff have an excellent knowledge and understanding of how children learn. They use this to provide highly stimulating and engaging educational programmes, which spark children's imagination and curiosity. As a result, all children make rapid progress given their starting points and capabilities.  Partnerships with parents and external agencies are exceptional and a particular strength at the nursery. The nursery entirely values parents as partners and places the

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This provision is outstanding

highest priority on working closely with all parents.  Children are excited, confident and eager to learn. The nursery is rich in resources and equipment, complemented by varied and imaginative experiences to support children's development across all areas of learning.

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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

 inspire children's further understanding of their natural environment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the nursery and spoke with the staff.  The inspector viewed the areas of the premises and garden.  The inspector conducted a joint observation of a teaching activity with the deputy manager.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection and engaged in discussions with staff and children.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and checked evidence of staff's suitability and qualifications.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The nursery forms very successful links with external agencies to ensure that all children's needs are exceptionally well met. Staff have developed partnerships with local schools in order to support children's future move to school. Staff have high expectations and are motivated exceptionally well by the manager and senior staff. Management and staff have an excellent understanding of the learning and development requirements. Monitoring of children's learning and development is accurate and precise and meticulously tracks the progress of both individual children and groups of children. Any gaps in learning are then swiftly identified and addressed. There is a comprehensive and ongoing programme of self-evaluation and continuing professional development, to continue to raise the quality of educational programmes to an even higher level. For example, plans are in place to develop and

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

extend the nursery's natural environment.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of the seven areas of learning, which ensures they are very skilled in planning to meet each child's individual needs. Teaching is inspirational as staff use their expert knowledge to identify specific starting points for each child and maintain exemplary records on how well they are progressing. Consequently, all children make very good progress in their learning and are very well prepared for school. Exceptional systems to engage parents in all aspects of their child's learning are in place. The superb key-person approach ensures staff can plan specifically for individual children and parents are informed exceedingly well about their children's achievements and progress. This means that parents and carers can become actively involved in their child's learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are flourishing in this warm and welcoming environment. An exemplary key- person system, which begins even before children start attending the nursery, helps to ensure they each develop a strong relationship with staff. Staff have an expert knowledge of children in their care. New children and parents are exceptionally well supported to ensure a successful settling-in period that is tailored to the needs of each child and family. Children show great confidence and independence as they explore the stimulating environment happily and with self-assurance. Staff use highly effective methods to manage children's behaviour and help them understand how to keep themselves safe. For example, they provide explanations and gentle reminders. As a result of the exceptional care offered by staff, children learn independence skills which will support and promote their future learning and eventual move to school.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children make consistently high rates of progress in relation to their starting points and are extremely well prepared for the next stage of their education. Children are highly motivated and very eager to join in. They consistently demonstrate the characteristics of effective learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY298740 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 861661 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 55 Name of provider Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust Date of previous inspection 22 July 2011 Telephone number 01603 594034

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Setting details

Footsteps Day Nursery was registered in 2005 and is part of the Sure Start Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3, one at level 6 and one has Early Years Professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 9am until 12 noon and 1pm until 4pm. 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

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

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