Footsteps Nursery School

Footsteps Nursery School Biddenham Turn, Biddenham, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4AZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 May 2017 18 October 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

 Managers strive to provide a high-quality provision. Plans for improvement are successfully implemented to improve outcomes for children  Children thoroughly enjoy their time in this warm and welcoming nursery. They behave well, learn to use good manners, share resources and take turns.  Children form strong relationships with their key person. Staff successfully gather information when they first start and a well established settling-in procedure helps children settle quickly and develop well.  Partnerships with parents are highly effective. Staff keep parents well informed about all aspects of their children's care and education. Parents are very complimentary about the nursery.  Staff closely monitor children's progress and accurately identify any gaps in their development and learning. Staff provide enjoyable and imaginative activities to support children's progress.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always challenge the older or most-able children to the highest level.  The managers do not focus precisely enough on supporting staff's professional development to raise the quality of teaching to outstanding.

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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

 provide greater challenge for the older and most-able children to maximise their learning and development  focus on staff's professional development to raise the quality of teaching to outstanding.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed teaching and learning, children playing and staff leading activities inside and outside.  The inspector checked a range of documents, including policies and children's assessment records.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the managers.  The inspector spoke to parents, staff and children to find out their views.  The inspector held a meeting with the managers.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Managers have high expectations of themselves and their team. They use self-evaluation effectively to identify areas for improvement or change. Safeguarding is effective. All staff understand their role in helping to protect children's welfare. Staff work in partnership with a range of agencies to support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Recent training for children's language development has ensured that staff can act quickly if they have any concerns. Gaps in learning are identified quickly and support is provided to help children to make good progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use observations and assessment of children's learning effectively. They use this information to plan activities based on children's individual needs and interests. For example, children mix shaving foam and powdered paint. Staff encourage children to describe the texture and talk about how the colours change. Staff provide a range of resources that allows children to independently choose how they play and learn. For example, children choose from a range of role play themes in the home corner. Children's communication skills are strong and they become confident speakers. Children have constant opportunities to access a range of open-ended resources outside, such as planks and stones to help to develop their imaginative play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Everyone from a wide range of backgrounds is made to feel extremely welcome at the nursery. The key-person system works well and helps children to become emotionally secure and to start to explore and participate in activities. All children, including babies are settled and happy. Staff are good role models. They give clear, consistent guidance to children about the expectations for behaviour. Children benefit from nutritious meals snacks and drinks. Parents and carers are complimentary about staff and value the support their children receive.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language are making good or better progress. Children are eager to learn and take part. They make decisions and play with good levels of independence. Older children are respectful and learn about the world around them. For example, they handle the nursery guinea pigs with care and take turns to feed them. Children are developing the necessary skills for their future learning or move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY415737 Local authority Bedford Borough Inspection number 1065590 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 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Footsteps Nursery School Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 October 2013 Telephone number 01234 262743 / 07984136097

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reference number

Footsteps Nursery School registered in 2010. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, during school term times. Sessions are from 7.45am to 5pm. There are 11 members of staff, 10 of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 3 or above. 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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