First Steps Day Nursery

First Steps Day Nursery Ashford Hospital, London Road, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 3AA

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 October 2016 2 May 2013

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Parent partnerships are good. Staff keep parents well informed about children's welfare and learning. They work well together to support children's learning at home and in the setting. For example, staff send parents newsletters that include activities for children to do at home and provide supportive parenting leaflets.  Staff plan a range of enjoyable activities that motivate children to learn. For example, babies enjoyed moving through cornflakes and older children enjoyed a creative challenge using an interesting range of materials in a pretend ice-cream factory.  Staff are caring and attentive to children's needs. They settle them well and form strong bonds with all children, who are happy and secure.  Children gain confidence and are motivated to join in with activities. They make good progress in their learning and develop a good range of skills in preparation for their next stage in learning, including the move to school. For example, older children

p.1

This provision is good

recognise their names and are keen to practise their writing skills.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager does not make the best use of monitoring to identify where children's learning experiences can be improved further to help them make even better progress.  Children do not always have enough opportunities to make decisions and lead their own play.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 extend further the monitoring system to help identify where children's learning experiences can be improved to an even higher level to help them make the best possible progress  increase opportunities for children to make decisions and follow their own play ideas to support their independent learning even further.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed teaching practices and the impact these have on children's learning.  The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff, children and parents.  The inspector read some of the setting's documentation, including the safeguarding policy and procedures.  The inspector sampled children's development information and records.  The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Effective self-evaluation has enabled the setting to maintain its good quality service since the previous inspection. For example, leaders made changes to the physical layout of the setting to improve the learning environment for all children. A thorough induction programme supports new staff well. The manager ensures new staff understand policies and have access to professional development opportunities. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a secure knowledge of how to keep children safe and the process to follow should they need to report any child protection concerns. The manager ensures that thorough risk assessments take place to protect children's safety.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of how young children learn and they provide a range of challenging and stimulating experiences that engage them well. For example, young children enjoyed exploring and investigating lights, colours and everyday objects in the well-resourced sensory room. Staff provide good opportunities to help children explore their creative ideas as they play. For instance, children were inspired by outside play equipment to use their imaginations in a pirate role play game and were intrigued with the effects created by mixing paint on transparent surfaces. Staff support children's communication and language development well. For example, they listen carefully, value what younger children have to say and introduce new vocabulary as they play.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are skilled in supporting children's emotional development. For example, effective systems are in place to help children as they progress through the different age rooms. Staff provide plenty of opportunities for children to be physically active and to learn how to play safely. Children frequently use the indoor soft play facilities. They learn to climb safely, and use bikes in the large well-resourced outdoor area. Staff encourage healthy lifestyles effectively. They teach children good hygiene routines, and provide healthy, nutritious meals and snacks. Staff are positive role models and manage children's behaviour well, such as teaching good manners, sharing and taking turns.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good social skills and enjoy involving their friends in their play. For example, older children shared equipment and took turns to stir the cooking pot in a campfire role play. Children show perseverance and are keen to explore their learning environment. For instance, babies focused well as they crawled up soft ramps and were determined to achieve success when rolling. Children progress well with their communication and language skills. For example, older children shared their ideas clearly and babies communicated about their family photographs using sounds and gestures.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 120034 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 1061282 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 - 5 Total number of places 74 Number of children on roll 86 Name of registered person Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 2 May 2013 Telephone number 01784 884757

p.4

reference number

First Steps Nursery registered in 2001. It operates within the grounds of Ashford Hospital, Ashford, Surrey. It opens from Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, all year. The setting employs 20 staff, of whom 19 hold appropriate early years qualifications, including one at level 4 and 18 at level 3. The setting receives government funding for children aged two, three and four years.

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