Stepping Stones Nursery and Woodland Adventures

Stepping Stones Nursery and Woodland Adventures Manor Farm, Upper Slaughter, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 2JJ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 February 2017 24 June 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

 The staff work well with the parents and other professionals to ensure that children's individual needs are met. They share information with parents to successfully support children's progress.  The environment is well organised to allow children to make their own choices and decisions. Children are encouraged to be independent in the setting and show confidence in meeting their own needs. For example, young children access the potty area confidently to use during early toilet training.  Children form good relationships and bonds with the staff. Children are secure and happy. They come together throughout the day so they learn to be sociable and confident in large group situations.  Children learn about people who are different to themselves. They learn about the wider world. For example, children use books and the globe to explore other countries.  Staff use children's interests to support them to develop good levels of language and

p.1

This provision is good

communication. For example, soft toys are used as puppets to ask the children questions to encourage them to think and respond.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not make regular precise assessments of children's learning, to plan activities that challenge children to make the best possible progress.  Parents are not fully involved in giving their views to evaluate the service.

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

 strengthen staff's knowledge of how to use assessments effectively to enable children to make the best possible progress  offer more encouragement for parents to share their views to make a more precise evaluation of the service that is being provided.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector checked a range of documentation.  The inspector took into account the views of parents and carers through discussions during the inspection and through reading feedback forms.  The inspector had a discussion and an evaluation of children's learning and development with the staff and manager.  The inspector spoke to the staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager uses a rigorous procedure to safely recruit and manage staff to ensure that they are suitable. She monitors and models good practice to ensure that staff are consistent and supportive of children's learning. Staff are supported to attend training to raise the quality of the teaching. For example, staff use their forest school training to encourage children to take safe risks. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a good understanding of the local procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Partnerships with parents are effective in supporting the children in the setting. The manager has evaluated the service that she is providing, although parents are not actively involved in identifying areas for improvement.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The staff know the children well. They support children's communication and language consistently throughout the nursery. For example, even young babies are encouraged to babble to communicate with the staff at mealtimes and during their play. Older children are asked relevant questions to encourage them to think and respond, and staff introduce new words to the young children's vocabulary. Children are encouraged to estimate as they learn mathematical concepts such as 'heavy' and 'light' while playing with the sand. The manager and staff observe the children, and record and monitor their progress. However, they do not use the information effectively to make precise assessments of the children's learning to plan consistently interesting and challenging activities.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have lots of opportunities to explore the outdoors. They make use of the woodland area to develop their physical skills and are motivated to develop their abilities further. For example, children enjoy balancing on rope bridges. They are excited to extend their skills further by learning to turn around on the rope. Children learn about being healthy and they are encouraged to observe the effects that exercise has on their bodies. For example, children talk about being tired and needing a drink after taking part in music and movement sessions. Children learn to take risks in their play and are encouraged to support each other. For example, children hold the rope bridge still as their friends take turns walking across it.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and keen to be involved in activities. They make good progress in their development. For example, three-year-olds learn to have conversations at mealtimes and pre-school children learn to recognise and write their names. Children are well prepared for the next stage of their learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY301590 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1061873 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 76 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Claire Louise Wilson

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 June 2013 Telephone number 01451 820345

p.4

reference number

Stepping Stones Nursery and Woodland Adventures holiday club re-registered under current ownership in 2005 and the holiday club was added in 2010. The setting is based in Gloucestershire. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. It receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 11 members of staff working with the children. The owner-manager has a qualification at level 4, and seven members of staff hold early years qualifications from level 2 to level 6.

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