First Little Steps

First Little Steps Community Hall, 2 Budge Lane, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4AZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 April 2016 Not applicable

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Staff do not always challenge children sufficiently to extend their learning and help them make good progress.  Not all children are engaged during group activities. For example, the routines of the session sometimes result in children being taken away from activities of their choosing. Staff are not always used effectively to support group times.  The manager does not seek the views of parents and carers to support the ongoing evaluation of the pre-school to help identify areas for further development.

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It has the following strengths

 The friendly staff team works very well together. The environment is welcoming and children are happy and build positive relationships with the staff and each other.  Staff are good role models for the children. For example, they remind children to take turns and to share, and give them consistent praise and encouragement.  The manager and staff monitor children's progress to help them identify any development gaps. They share this information with parents and encourage them to support their children at home, for example, by the use of 'parent engagement' bags.  The manager helps staff gain a secure awareness of child protection. For example, they attend staff meetings to discuss information from training and take part in quizzes to check their knowledge.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve the quality of teaching to ensure that children are challenged and motivated to learn and make consistently good progress. 15/07/2016

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 review the routines of the session to ensure that planned group times do not interrupt children's play and learning and that staff are deployed effectively to support this  strengthen the self-evaluation of the pre-school to include the views of parents and carers.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children playing indoors and outdoors.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents to gain their feedback.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  . The inspector looked at a sample of documents including training certificates, policies and evidence of staff suitability.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The newly appointed manager is committed to providing a quality service for children and families. She has taken advice from the local authority to help evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the pre-school and identify areas for improvement. For example, staff are encouraging children to be more independent and they have plans to provide more materials outside for children to explore. However, the self-evaluation does not include the views of parents to support ongoing development. Safeguarding is effective. All staff updated their knowledge recently and understand their duty to follow-up concerns about children's welfare. They know the process to follow if they have concerns about the welfare of children and families. Staff receive some mentoring support and training to develop their skills further; however, at times the quality of teaching is not good.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff provide children with a range of activities and toys to play with. For example, they enjoy using scarves to weave on the fence and use tools to make 'cakes' in the sand. Staff recognise some opportunities to extend children's play. For example, they used an upturned table to provide a ramp for the cars and encouraged children to estimate distance as cars are steered through obstacles. However, staff do not always challenge children sufficiently to extend their individual learning to support good progress. Staff provide children with positive opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, children use chalks to draw outside and practise their throwing and pedalling abilities. The manager makes positive use of additional funding to help support children's needs.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff know the children well and support their individual care needs effectively. They work closely with parents and other early years professionals to share information about children's development. Staff help teach children about good hygiene practices and to take appropriate responsibility for their safety. For example, children wash their hands after using the toilet and before snacks, and use the steps to the garden safely. Staff help children learn about healthy lifestyles. For example, they involve children in the preparation of nutritious snacks and encourage regular drinks of water. However, the routine for snack time and other group activities sometimes involves children waiting around for too long. For example, children become distracted and staff deployment does not always support children's engagement effectively.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are happy and form friendships with each other. Children learn some skills to help prepare them for school, such as recognising their own name and taking turns during play. However, their progress is hindered by the inconsistent quality of teaching.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY479898 Local authority Sutton Inspection number 986393 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 22 Name of provider Michelle Coker-Hounslow Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07434965868

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Setting details

First Little Steps registered in 2014. It operates from a community hall in Mitcham, within the London Borough of Sutton. There are three staff who have relevant childcare qualifications, including the manager who holds a level 5 qualification. The pre-school is open each weekday during term time, from 9am to 12.30pm. Afternoon sessions are provided from 1pm to 4pm when there is sufficient demand.

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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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