Footsteps Nursery Walmley

Footsteps Nursery Walmley Ash Cottage, Walmley Ash Lane, Sutton Coldfield, B76 2AA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 May 2016 Not applicable

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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

 Leaders and managers provide good support and guidance to the staff who deliver good standards of learning and care. Self-evaluation is established and staff, parents and children contribute to the culture of continuous improvement in the nursery.  Children are cared for in a calm, supportive environment. Staff foster their sense of well-being effectively and children are confident to explore their surroundings and enjoy play indoors and outside.  Children make good progress from their starting points because staff provide good quality teaching. They assess children's achievements regularly to plan for further learning. Managers monitor the progress of groups of children systematically to ensure gaps are closing.  Children have access to a wealth of resources and have opportunities to explore a wide range of textures. They make links with real-life experiences as they play with equipment.  The partnerships with parents are strong. Parents and staff work well together to

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This provision is good

support children's learning in the nursery and at home. Staff share information with parents each day about their child's experiences, routines and care.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always allow time for older children to respond to questions and to choose their own resources during activities.  Staff do not use opportunities sufficiently to extend younger children's understanding of healthy eating.

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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

 allow sufficient time for older children to respond to questions to demonstrate their understanding, and provide more opportunities for them to choose resources to support their learning  provide more opportunities for younger children to extend their understanding of healthy eating.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the premises with the manager.  The inspector observed teaching and learning activities indoors and play activities outside. The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector looked at a sample of policies and procedures, children's assessment records and other documentation, including records of attendance and accidents.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children and reviewed the nursery's self-evaluation form.  The inspector held meetings with senior managers and nursery managers.  The inspector took account of the views of children, parents and staff spoken to on the day of inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders and managers ensure procedures are followed effectively to promote children's welfare. The staff-to-child ratios are consistently maintained and staff are deployed effectively to supervise children during activities indoors and outside. Managers monitor the environment consistently and staff carry out robust risk assessments to ensure children are always safe. Leaders and managers ensure all documentation for the smooth running of the nursery is maintained, including accidents records. All relevant information is shared with parents promptly. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff keep up to date with changes and are well informed about their responsibilities to protect children. For example, they ensure children are not left unsupervised with unvetted persons at any time. Robust performance management ensures managers carry out regular reviews of practice and staff benefit from consistent training to enhance their

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

skills. Leaders and managers work closely with other professionals to meet children's learning and care needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children have worthwhile experiences because staff plan well for their individual learning. The language skills of babies and toddlers are promoted with lots of good interaction and eye contact. Staff have high expectations of young children, for instance, as they encourage them to name colours during play. Pre-school children have opportunities to practise pencil control while they make marks in materials, such as shaving foam. Staff give lots of praise for effort and motivate children with discussions. Staff acknowledge children's imaginative contribution as they compare the foam to favourite ice cream. They provide clear guidance for children to use a selection of open-ended resources and maintain their interests during activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are happy and form strong bonds with key persons. They make friendships with others and play well together. Children often approach staff for help and respond positively to praise for good behaviour. Children learn about the world around them through a wide range of activities. They try out a selection of foods and learn about the countries from which they are sourced. Children enjoy healthy meals and snacks daily. Children's dietary needs are met effectively due to rigorous practice throughout the nursery. Children learn to keep safe as they contribute to risk assessments for forest school activities and learn to recognise potential hazards.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children develop the skills they need for their future learning. Younger children have opportunities to move around the rooms and help themselves to toys. Pre-school children put on coats and boots for outside play, under supervision. They develop good skills in early literacy and learn to do simple calculations with the aid of stimulating resources.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489802 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 1051603 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 89 Number of children on roll 149 Name of registered person Footsteps Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01827 285566

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reference number

Footsteps Nursery Walmley was registered in 2015. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, 3, 4 or 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs or disability. The nursery follows the High Scope ethos.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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

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reference number

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

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