Stepping Stones Nurseries (Midlands) Ltd - Great Barr

Stepping Stones Nurseries (Midlands) Ltd - Great Barr Stepping Stones Nursery, 862 Walsall Road, Great Barr, BIRMINGHAM, B42 1ES

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 May 2017 24 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

 Staff develop strong relationships with all of the schools that children transfer on to. This helps to ensure that there is continuity in children's care and learning.  Staff make effective links with other professionals to provide support for children. The well-planned activities and staff support help all children make good progress.  The manager and staff team provide a warm and welcoming environment. Children have fun and enjoy their activities. They use stimulating resources both indoors and outdoors. This captures children's interest and keeps them motivated in their learning.  Partnerships with parents are a particular strength of the nursery. Staff organise workshops for parents and encourage children and parents to take resources home to help parents gain a better understanding of how to support their children's learning.  Children behave well and staff are warm and caring towards the children. This helps

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This provision is good

children to develop positive relationships with the other children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Monitoring and supervision procedures for staff are not focused precisely enough on developing the good quality of practice even further.  Sometimes staff do not give children enough encouragement to join in with activities and become more involved.

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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

 develop the monitoring of staff performance and implement more rigorous supervision that enhances the quality of practice even further  support staff to recognise when to offer greater encouragement to children to help them develop the confidence to join in with activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's records, planning and written policies, and discussed safeguarding procedures.  The inspector checked the evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff and the provider's self-evaluation.  The inspector held discussions with parents and took account of their views.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff attend relevant training and know how to respond if they have welfare concerns about a child in their care. The manager follows robust recruitment and ongoing vetting procedures to help ensure that staff are suitable. Managers provide staff with training opportunities to extend their skills and knowledge. Children's progress is monitored to identify any gaps in their learning. Staff are vigilant and ensure that children are well supervised. Parents and children are included in the self-evaluation procedures. This helps to identify targets for further developments so that there is ongoing improvement and the quality of the provision continues to benefit all children. Comprehensive policies and procedures are accessible to parents and are regularly reviewed.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use observations and assessments effectively to identify what children need to learn next, helping them to make good progress. They ensure that activities follow children's interests and support their development. Children learn about size and shape as staff draw around them to make body outlines on the ground. They develop their imagination as they pretend to cook a meal using pots and pans in the water tray. Children discuss with each other what they are doing which helps their communication skills. They listen attentively to stories and join in with familiar action songs. Young children benefit from having plenty of space to develop their physical skills and mobility. Children learn about the people that help us as they visit a local dentist's surgery.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Parents get to know their child's key person well. They have daily opportunities to discuss their child's progress and understand how they can support them at home. Nursery outings help to forge strong relationships between staff, children and parents. Children grow in confidence, are kind to each other and develop a good sense of belonging. Staff encourage children to share and take turns. Children have many opportunities to play outside in the fresh air to help support a healthy lifestyle. They thoroughly enjoy the freshly prepared, nutritious meals and learn good hygiene routines. Children learn to do things for themselves, such as serve their own meals and clear away after mealtimes.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress. Children are eager to help. They collect water from a tap in the garden to fill up the water tray and help set the table for lunch. Children make marks using chalks and paintbrushes during outdoor play, which helps to develop their literacy skills. Children are eager learners, equipped with the key skills needed for their future learning and are well supported to be ready for their move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY463042 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 1066917 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 1 - 5 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Nurseries (Midlands) Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 October 2013 Telephone number 01213580294

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reference number

Stepping Stones Nursery registered in 2013. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, and two staff hold level 2 qualifications. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. 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

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 .

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reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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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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