Step By Step Nursery

Step By Step Nursery 1 Bridge Avenue, Hammersmith, London, W6 9JA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 November 2016 10 May 2016

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

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

 The provider does not always ensure children play in a suitable environment. The premises and resources are not all clean or well maintained.  Staff do not consistently make sure checks of the environment are rigorous enough to identify all potential risks to children. For example, trailing wires that lead from the kitchen workstation are not removed or made inaccessible to children and the exit from the garden is not kept clear in case of an emergency.  Staff do not always make the most of learning opportunities for the younger children during some routine times, such as during the afternoon transition.

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It has the following strengths

 The provider and manager have made many improvements since the last inspection. They have developed a clear action plan to help focus on ways to further improve the provision. This has been positively accepted by the staff team and has enhanced teaching and learning and outcomes for children.  Relationships between children and staff are strong. Staff have a good knowledge of children's individual care needs and family circumstances and work well with parents to ensure children are settled and self-assured.  Staff use lunchtimes well to promote the children's social development, self-care skills and teach them about healthy lifestyles.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 ensure all potential hazards to children are promptly identified and minimised, this includes in the kitchen hatch area and the outdoor emergency exit 23/11/2016

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Due Date

 ensure that the premises and resources are fit for purpose and comply with requirements of health and safety legislation. 23/11/2016

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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 planning of routines, particularly during transition times at the start and end of a session, in order to continue to support children and maximise opportunities for their play and learning at this time.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities both indoors and outside.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the day and held discussions with the manager and provider.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken with on the day of the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation, information about the nursery's self-evaluation, evidence of suitability of staff and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

A recent action plan has been developed in order to bring about improvements. Managers demonstrate a clear understanding of the need to continue to develop staff practice. This rightly identifies the need to make sure that staff supervision is a focus. Staff provide sensitive support to new staff who are not so familiar with the nursery’s policies and procedures. All staff meet with the manager and receive the training and mentoring they need to develop their teaching. The provider and manager have worked together well to support the nursery during a challenging period. Safeguarding is effective. Lead practitioners for safeguarding have attended recent training. All staff are now fully aware of their duty to protect children and have a sound understanding of the policies and procedures to follow. Staff complete daily checks of the environment to minimise risks. However, on occasion checks are not robust enough to ensure trailing wires are removed

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff interact with children well, providing a running commentary that ensures children hear a wide range of words throughout the day. For example, when children are mixing and measuring ingredients for play dough staff ask children questions about what they are doing. This encourages children to describe and develop their ideas as they share with their friends. This helps children begin to learn to cooperate with others and develop valuable skills they need to be ready for the move on to school. Children of all ages have the opportunity to listen to stories; staff working with older children ask open-ended questions about the story. This encourages children to think and develop their early literacy skills. Information from observations and assessments are used well to identify any gaps in children's learning. Appropriate interventions are secured early to ensure children receive timely support.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Risk assessments do not identify all hazards in the nursery. In addition, resources and some areas of the environment are not clean or well maintained. Staff know the children well and children develop warm relationships, which help them feel safe and secure while at nursery. Parents appreciate the staff support and friendly environment. Staff are encouraging children to listen and develop their turn-taking and sharing skills. On occasion, routine times such as before lunch for the younger children are less well planned for. Consequently staff do not capture the interests of all children.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress, particularly in developing their communication and language skills. They are able to self-select from a range of resources and lead their own play. They now have more opportunities to develop independent skills such as pouring drinks and clearing their plates away after lunch. Children have fun playing in the adventurous and appealing outdoor area. They excitedly use large play equipment, which helps them to develop their physical skills. They play together cooperatively as good preparation for their next stage in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 402846 Local authority Hammersmith & Fulham Inspection number 1056423 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 - 8 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person Nelson Child Care Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 May 2016 Telephone number 020 8748 1319

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reference number

Step By Step Nursery is one of two nurseries run by Nelson Child Care Limited. It registered in 2001 and operates from three rooms in a house in Hammersmith. All children share access to an enclosed outdoor play area. The nursery is open every weekday from 8am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. In total there are eight staff working directly with the early years children. All staff have relevant early years qualifications. The nursery is in receipt of funding for children aged two, three and four years. This includes the early years pupil premium. It supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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