Stepping Stones Day Nursery Spixworth

Stepping Stones Day Nursery Spixworth Spixworth Infant School, Ivy Road, Spixworth, NORWICH, NR10 3PX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 August 2016 25 February 2013

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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

 The highly qualified staff demonstrate that they have a deep understanding of how young children learn. They successfully use this knowledge throughout all their interactions with the children in order for each child to reach their full potential.  The setting offers an exceptionally rich and varied environment, both indoors and outdoors, which enables children to explore freely and make discoveries about the world around them. Children's communication and social skills are extremely well provided for and they demonstrate very positive attitudes to learning.  The setting works within the local community and offers a fully inclusive environment where all children are highly valued for their unique individuality. As a result, children demonstrate high levels of self-esteem and confidence and enjoy carrying out tasks independently, sharing their achievements with others.  The managers successfully lead the highly qualified and knowledgeable staff team to

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This provision is outstanding

drive the setting forwards. All staff demonstrate a passion and commitment to ongoing development, which leads to continuous improvements in practice that heighten the outcomes for children even further.  Parents speak extremely highly of the care that their children receive and how well the setting supports families. Parents feel fully involved in all aspects of their children's time at the setting.

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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

 review and evaluate the impact of the new assessment system on strengthening the planning even further.

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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 carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including safeguarding procedures and policies, as well as observation and assessment documentation.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The leadership and management of the setting strive for excellence. They are highly committed to supporting children and their families to the uppermost extent and offer flexible and adaptable care that fully enables children to reach their full potential. Safeguarding is effective. There is a culture of vigilance regarding child protection issues and all staff are fully aware of the robust safeguarding policies and procedures. They ensure children are in a safe, secure and stimulating environment where they are empowered to be independent and confident learners. Rigorous self-evaluation astutely identifies areas for ongoing improvements that will directly strengthen provision further, taking into consideration the views of everyone involved with the setting. Staff have not yet evaluated the impact of the new online assessment system.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff have an extremely sound understanding of their key children and use every opportunity to extend their learning further. For example, when children show an interest in the walkie talkies, their key person plays a game where they talk to each other, using their imagination and improving their knowledge of technology. Staff are very skilled at encouraging children to link up ideas and to use their critical-thinking skills, affirming their knowledge and encouraging new ideas and ways of doing things. For example, children look at the shape of a plate and equate it to a steering wheel. They pretend that they are out driving a car and talk about where they would like to go and what they would see there. The setting successfully implements a tracking system to swiftly identify any gaps in children's learning. These are quickly addressed and children make rapid progress in their learning. Parent partnerships are extremely strong. The setting has successfully

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

implemented many strategies to involve parents in their children's learning, such as special event days and ideas for activities for parents to do with their children at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children who require additional support are extremely well supported. Children's well- being is always at the centre of the setting's practice, and children benefit from learning about how to keep themselves safe and healthy, as well as looking after those around them. For example, children help to look after the many pets the setting has. A strong culture of mutual respect and positive behaviour is well established. Staff support younger children exceptionally well and during unsettled periods, such as their first session, staff offer caring and nurturing interactions to help reassure and settle them quickly. All staff fully encourage and motivate children to direct their own play. For example, children choose to explore, experiment and investigate the garden with the magnifying glasses.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children are extremely well prepared for their next stage of learning and have the skills that empower them to achieve well in their future learning. Children are very enthusiastic and eager to participate in the wide range of activities and freely express themselves and their ideas with others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY454154 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 1066381 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Martyne Claire Ellison

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 February 2013 Telephone number 07539069653

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reference number

Stepping Stones Day Nursery Spixworth was registered in 2012 and is privately run and managed. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6, two hold level 5, and eight hold level 3. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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

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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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