Little Steps Nursery (2) Limited

Little Steps Nursery (2) Limited 1223 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, BIRMINGHAM, B27 6PX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 January 2017 9 September 2016

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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:

 Since the last inspection, the provider has taken steps to improve practice. Action plans have been put in place to drive improvements. Some areas of weakness have been addressed. However, these changes have not yet succeeded in raising the overall quality of the provision to a good level.  The quality of teaching is variable. Staff do not receive the supervision, coaching and support they need, in order to be effective in identifying and meeting all children's learning needs.  Staff do not use information gained from observations and assessments to focus precisely on what children need to learn next. This means that teaching does not target the areas where children need greatest support to promote their good progress.  Adult-led activities are not always planned and organised effectively enough to maintain children's focus and attention.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff organise a safe and welcoming environment. Settling-in sessions help children feel emotionally secure before they start. Children are generally happy and settled.  Partnerships with parents are sound. Staff regularly share information about children's care and learning. Parents are happy with the service provided.  Staff teach children healthy habits. They provide nutritional snacks and meals and children have daily opportunities for fresh air and physical exercise.

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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

 provide good quality support, coaching and training for all staff to ensure that they have the appropriate skills, knowledge and understanding they need to deliver a quality learning experience for all children, achieved through high-quality teaching 13/03/2017

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Due Date

 implement effective systems to observe, assess and monitor children's learning and use this information to identify their individual needs, interests, and stage of development and to plan a challenging experience for each child in all of the areas of learning and development. 13/03/2017

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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

 improve the planning and organisation of adult-led activities and adapt experiences to take into account different ages and abilities to fully hold the interest of each child.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation 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.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

A new manager has recently been appointed and she has reflected on the overall quality of the provision with support from the local authority. Staff are steadily working through their action plans to address weaknesses. Most staff are qualified and some arrangements are in place for staff supervision, coaching and training. However, this has not yet succeeded in raising the overall quality of teaching to a good enough level. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff team are clear about child protection procedures. They are confident about what they should do if they have any welfare concerns.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff gather some information about children's progress by carrying out observations and they are generally aware of children's current learning needs. However, they do not always identify gaps or delays in children's development quickly enough. As a result, these are not always addressed sufficiently. Staff do not always have an accurate view of what children need to learn next. Consequently, they do not always plan challenging experiences for each child in order to extend their learning and help them make best progress. Nevertheless, children are generally happy and engaged. Staff are kind and warm in their interactions with children. They play alongside children and use some suitable teaching strategies to promote their learning. For example, they model language focused on colours and letters as they play. Staff promote mathematical development as they encourage children to count and identify numbers as they complete number puzzles.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Adult-led activities are not always well planned to motivate and engage children. For example, some whole group activities are too long and children become bored and distracted. While some older children enjoy staff reading stories to the group, younger children are not always sufficiently engaged. Children enjoy plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, children have fun as they manoeuvre wheeled toys and play on the slide outside. Staff are attentive and children form close bonds with them. For example, staff readily provide cuddles and reassurance when children are upset. Staff give children frequent praise and encouragement to support children's self-esteem and confidence.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Weaknesses in teaching and the use of observation, assessment and planning systems mean that children are not making good progress given their starting points. However, they are learning some basic skills to help prepare them for their move on to school. For example, they are beginning to make marks with crayons and chalks. Early mathematical skills are emerging as they count and use number language in their play. Children enjoy taking responsibility for small tasks. For example, they help to tidy away toys at the end of the session.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY495495 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 1073912 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Little Steps Nursery (2) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 September 2016 Telephone number 0121 296 9875

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reference number

Little Steps Nursery (2) Limited was registered in 2015. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, one at level 3 and one at level 5. The manager holds a qualification at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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