First Steps Weston Nursery and Pre-School

First Steps Weston Nursery and Pre-School Weston Childrens Centre, Penn Hill Road, Bath, BA1 4EH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 May 2017 Not applicable

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 The quality of teaching is variable. Staff and leaders do not extend children's learning fully and children are not always suitably challenged to help them make good progress.  Staff and management have made some well-considered improvements to some aspects of the setting, but have failed to fully evaluate the quality of teaching.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff and management develop some interesting opportunities where children are happy to play and explore. For example, children use mirrors to look at their faces and draw detailed pictures of their eyes and eyelashes.  Children behave well and develop positive social skills. They have strong relationships with their key person and have their care needs well met.  Staff and management work well with other professionals. They share some information well and provide a platform for discussion and a consistent understanding of children's care needs. This is particularly positive for those children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.  Staff and management take the time to get to know families, they build real relationships with parents, this has a positive impact on children's care experiences at home as well as in the setting.

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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

 improve the quality of interactions with children and the provision available to them, to consistently provide challenging experiences that help children make the best progress possible. 05/06/2017

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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 self-evaluation to identify all areas where improvement is needed.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff's interactions with children across the setting.  The inspector looked at documentation, including the setting's safeguarding policy.  The inspector spoke with children and parents and took their views into account.  The inspector conducted a joint observation and a leadership and management meeting.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Staff have a well-developed understanding of safeguarding procedures and child protection issues. They attend training to support their practice. Safeguarding is effective. The manager conducts regular supervision meetings and staff have attended training to support their understanding of the different ways in which children learn. However, this does not have a consistently positive impact on outcomes for children and activities do not challenge children's understanding fully, or promote their good development. In general, staff understand the care needs of children and provide a warm environment where children are safe and happy.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff make some useful observations and assessments of children's achievements and plan activities with their stage of development in mind. For example, children make a train track and work well independently to find the pieces that fit together. They enjoy exploring with dry porridge oats and paint brushes, then use a range of interesting pots and spoons and think about the things they might make. However, the quality of interactions and teaching is inconsistent and does not always support children's learning. Staff and managers have positive relationships with parents and share information effectively. This helps children feel valued and included at nursery, as well as at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff and management provide an environment that supports children's need to explore and they become engaged in their own activities. There are opportunities for children to make decisions about what and where they would like to play. For example, children choose to look at books and understand where to find them and how to put them away. They develop good independence skills. Children have lots of space to run around outside and particularly enjoy exploring, particularly in the willow den. They get lots of fresh air and exercise. Children behave well and develop positive social skills. For example, they sit nicely at the table for a snack and always say please and thank you.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children are not always sufficiently challenged by the activities on offer. However, overall, they develop some of the necessary skills in readiness for school. Children play in a happy and settled way. They are kind and respectful towards each other and build lovely friendships.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY485916 Local authority Bath & NE Somerset Inspection number 1005490 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 22 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person First Steps (Bath)

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07415162000

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reference number

First Steps Weston Nursery and Pre-school registered in 2015. The nursery is situated in the Weston Village area of Bath. It is open from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, term time only except for bank holidays. There are three members of staff who work with children, including one who holds early years teacher status and two who hold childcare qualifications at level 3.

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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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