First Steps

First Steps 129 Medway, Great Lumley, CHESTER LE STREET, County Durham, DH3 4HU

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 May 2017 29 May 2015

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 Managers use their reflections effectively, overall, to assess all areas of practice and continuously improve the provision. There are high expectations of the staff and of the children in their care.  Staff provide safe and exciting play environments for children both indoors and outdoors. They plan a wide variety of fun activities and experiences based on children's individual interests. Children make good progress.  Teaching is good. The development of communication and language skills is prioritised. Staff skilfully ask questions to help extend children's learning.  Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff form warm and caring relationships with children and are very positive role models. They offer a wealth of encouragement and support to help children develop high levels of self-confidence and self-esteem.  Partnerships with parents are very strong. There is an effective two-way exchange of

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This provision is good

information to ensure all those involved are well informed about children's care and learning. Children have excellent self-care skills and complete age-appropriate tasks independently. This helps them to prepare for their future learning and the eventual move to school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not rigorously use information from monitoring the progress of specific groups of children to support the highest level of outcomes for all children.

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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

 enhance the use of information from the precise monitoring of progress made by specific groups of children to inform planning that helps promote outstanding outcomes for all children.

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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 documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took their views into account.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a secure knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and how to report any concerns regarding children's welfare or safety. The management team supports all staff well to continually develop their professional development and share good practice. Staff work effectively with other professionals and agencies to help address any gaps in learning. Information is effectively exchanged to help ensure that there is consistency in children's care and learning. Staff, parents and children are consulted about the quality of the nursery provision and their views are taken into account to support improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide many opportunities for babies and young children to investigate a range of stimulating and well-presented resources, including natural materials. Older children enjoy using their imaginations while playing with water outdoors, as they pretend to take their sit-and-ride toys through a car wash. Staff encourage their interests and provide a commentary and introduce new vocabulary. Children concentrate for significant periods of time as they delightedly create fairy houses, using stones, sticks and leaves from the garden. Staff engage playfully with children and make the most of opportunities to promote their problem-solving skills. For example, children are encouraged to try different ways of pouring water into sections of drainpipe to find out what makes the water flow faster or slower. Children are motivated, happy and enthusiastic learners.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Settling-in sessions are extremely carefully tailored to help support children to settle quickly and very well. Staff encourage babies to point to photographs of their family members. Staff speak very warmly and knowledgeably about their families and activities that they enjoy at home. This helps children feel a very strong sense of belonging and emotional security. Parents comment that the nursery provides a 'home from home' for their children with exceptional individual care from staff. They highly value the nutritious meals provided. Children thoroughly enjoy developing their physical skills outside in the fresh air every day. They learn to take age-appropriate risks. For example, children help each other to move tyres closer together so that they can balance on these and jump off safely. Very young children delight in helping with small tasks, such as tidying away toys. Staff frequently give specific praise to celebrate and support children's achievements.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children of all ages make good progress and develop the skills required for the next stage in their learning and their eventual move to school. Older children play very cooperatively together. They are kind and help one another. Babies independently explore resources and equipment to support their interests. Children enjoy frequent local outings which helps to promote their understanding of the wider community. They have many opportunities to practise their excellent social skills during daily routines.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY415762 Local authority Durham Inspection number 1094508 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 - 11 Total number of places 33 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person First Steps Nursery (Lumley) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 May 2015 Telephone number 07594 371849

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reference number

First Steps in Chester-le-Street, Durham, registered in 2010. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5 and six at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm, including before- and after-school care. 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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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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