Step One

Step One 11 Gatenby, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE4 6JU

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 September 2016 26 October 2012

p.1

3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

p.1

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

 The required progress check for those between the ages of two and three years has not been carried out for all eligible children. Consequently, some parents have not been fully informed of their children's development.  Children's developmental progress is not monitored effectively to ensure that any gaps are quickly identified and managed.  The ways in which staff's performance is managed through supervision are not yet effective to ensure all of them are fully supported to consistently deliver good quality teaching.  Self-evaluation does not ensure that all weaknesses in practice are swiftly identified and addressed.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Staff are kind, caring and know the children well. Children enjoy their time in the stimulating nursery environment.  Children behave well. Staff are good role models and use age-appropriate support to help children manage their feelings.  Parents speak highly of the nursery and the service it offers. They are kept well informed of their children's daily routines and activities.  Children are keen to participate in activities with staff as they draw their own treasure maps to find instruments.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

p.2

Due Date

 complete the progress check for all eligible children between the ages of two and three years, ensuring that parents are provided with a written summary of their child's progress in the prime areas of learning and development 24/10/2016

p.2

Due Date

 develop the programme for staff supervision, offering more targeted support and coaching to help them to improve their personal effectiveness and teaching to at least a good level. 24/10/2016

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 improve overall monitoring of children's individual progress, so that any gaps in learning are quickly identified and addressed  improve self-evaluation to ensure that all weaknesses in practice are clearly identified and addressed to improve outcomes for children.

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 a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the deputy manager and one of the providers. 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 small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Staff receive some training and supervision meetings with managers. This helps them to keep up to date with some areas of their practice, such as safeguarding. However, supervision meetings have only recently been put into practice to improve staff's performance. As a result, the quality of teaching is variable. Monitoring of children's progress is not effective in ensuring that gaps in children's learning are swiftly identified and addressed. This means that children are not supported to make consistently good progress in their learning. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have an appropriate understanding of their responsibilities to protect children from harm and what action to take if they are concerned about a child's welfare. Risk assessments are completed to identify and address potential hazards to children's safety. The nursery works effectively in partnership with other providers.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

For some children, the required progress check for children between the ages of two and three years has not been completed. As a result, some parents are not aware of their child's progress. Staff observe children's learning and development. They use these observations to plan children's next steps. Managers have recently developed ways of gathering children's starting points from the outset of care. These include information from parents. This helps staff to plan appropriate activities and support for each child straight away. Children engage in interesting activities. For example, they concentrate as they use jugs of water to push toys along the guttering. They re-enact life experiences as they pretend they are doctors, using equipment, such as stethoscopes.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children build strong bonds with their key person and are confident to approach staff with requests. They move around the room and outdoors, self-selecting play and activities. Children learn to share, take turns and are engaged and happy in their play. Staff promote children's good health. Children benefit from eating nutritious meals which are freshly prepared by the nursery cook. They have fresh air and exercise on a daily basis. They learn about their local community as they take trips to the library or go on nature walks. Staff encourage children to learn about diversity and the wider world. For example, they work with parents from different cultures to learn about their festivals. Children learn to keep themselves safe. For example, a child notes that the climbing frame is wet and needs to be dried, saying, 'I need a towel, it's still slippery'.

p.3

Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are, generally, gaining some of the basic skills that will help them to prepare for the next stage in their learning. Older children are developing their independence. They are able to self-select from a range of resources. However, weaknesses in the leadership and management of the nursery mean that not all children are making the best possible progress in their learning and development.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY275356 Local authority Peterborough Inspection number 1059663 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Step One Day Care Partnership

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 October 2012 Telephone number 01733 578 888

p.4

reference number

Step One was registered in 2003. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

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

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

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

p.5