Footsteps Day Nursery & Preschool

Footsteps Day Nursery & Preschool Chalfont St. Peter Football Club, Mill Meadow, Gravel Hill, Chalfont St. Peter, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 9QX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 February 2017 8 May 2013

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Leaders manage efficiently. They support staff well and identify relevant training, for example, to improve staff's teaching skills, to help them meet the needs of the children.  Leaders consider the suggestions of parents and staff, which contribute to the nursery's self-evaluation. They make changes which help children to prosper in their learning.  Leaders work effectively with other professionals to ensure children who require additional help progress. They cater for all children's needs and prepare children well for their next stage of development. All children make good progress in their learning.  Staff use their knowledge of the children effectively to support the next steps in their learning. They plan challenging activities based on the children's interests and needs.  Leaders provide children with a key person from the outset. They encourage parents and staff to work effectively together to support children's well-being. Positive

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This provision is good

relationships between key persons, parents and children help children to settle well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not encourage children to manage some task themselves. For example, children cannot easily access the resources to build on their independent learning.  Staff do not consistently support children who prefer to learn outdoors to extend their early reading skills.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 create opportunities for children to be more independent in their learning  improve the opportunities for children who prefer to learn outdoors to build on their early reading skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled documents, including the setting's self-evaluation, fire and accident information, risk assessments, safeguarding procedures, children's assessments and planning.  The inspector spoke to parents to evaluate how staff support their children's needs.  The inspector toured the premises and spoke to children and staff.  The inspector observed interactions between staff, children and parents.  The inspector conducted joint observations with the manager and deputy manager and evaluated teaching and learning.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders have a good understanding of children's development. They track and monitor children's learning to ensure staff support children towards their next steps and help close any gaps in learning. Safeguarding is effective. Leaders use rigorous recruitment procedures when employing staff to help make sure they are suitable to work with children. They carry out regular risk assessments, including for fire safety, to ensure the premises are safe and record accidents as required. Leaders ensure staff know what action to take should they have any concerns about a child to protect their welfare. The manager meets with staff to talk about and support their practice. She encourages professional development. For example, training has helped staff to accurately assess and record each child's progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff work closely with parents to establish children's starting points when they first attend. For example, parents share what they know about their children's development and interests and staff encourage children to voice what they want to learn. Staff use this information to plan a good range of learning experiences. They teach children about the wider world, such as the animals that live in and under the sea. Staff help children to develop their small muscles and to use tools for a purpose. They encourage children to listen and follow instructions, and teach them to use scissors and glue sticks. Staff help children to distinguish between different sounds to develop their speech, such as through songs and rhymes.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Key persons hold regular meetings with parents to involve them in their children's care and learning. They share children's progress and support parents to extend children's learning at home, such as sharing books to build on their vocabulary. Staff provide a safe and welcoming environment. Young children move freely about their room to explore. Staff develop older children's confidence and self-esteem well. For example, they offer praise and encouragement to help children take risks in their play safely. Staff are good role models for children. They teach children to share, take turns and respect each other.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who have special educational needs, make good progress from their starting points. Young children develop their physical skills and happily experiment with sounds when they push and pull objects and listen to musical instruments. Older children work well together. For example, they solve problems together and develop their mathematical and investigation skills. They work out how much sand flows through different sized utensils.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY430730 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 1062502 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 77 Name of registered person Footsteps Day Nursery And Pre-School Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 May 2013 Telephone number 01753 886477

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reference number

Footsteps Day Nursery and Preschool registered in 2011. It is situated in the grounds of the Chalfont St Peter Football Club. The nursery opens on weekdays from 7.45am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery provides care before and after school and during school holidays for children under eight years of age. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 18 members of staff. Of these, 12 hold early years qualifications. The manager has early years professional status.

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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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reference number

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

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