First Steps Nursery

First Steps Nursery 347 Lyndon Road, SOLIHULL, West Midlands, B92 7QT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 June 2017 6 March 2014

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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 greet children warmly and children build strong attachments with them. Staff use their knowledge of children to ensure they have an enjoyable day and that their needs are effectively met.  Staff use their observations and assessments of children involved in activities to clearly identify their future learning needs. They engage parents in their child's learning and share ideas for continuing their learning at home.  Children behave very well. They learn about acceptable behaviour. Staff build children's confidence and self-esteem. They praise their efforts and celebrate their achievements.  Children learn about their own safety and how to use equipment correctly. Staff remind children of the importance of not running indoors.  Managers and staff demonstrate their ability to reflect on their individual abilities and the nursery. They use the information to identify areas of particular strength within the

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This provision is good

provision and areas for improvement.  Children learn to communicate in different ways as staff also use simple sign language.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 While staff support the younger children, they do not consistently encourage their independence, with specific regard to mealtimes and during creative activities.  Although a wide variety of books is available, staff do not provide enough opportunities for children to be able to handle and enjoy books in good condition.

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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

 encourage and support younger children's developing independence  provide opportunities for children to be able to handle and enjoy books in good condition.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed joint observations with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider and manager, and looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Managers and staff are knowledgeable of the signs that may indicate a child is at risk from harm or neglect. Procedures for sharing their concerns with relevant agencies are in place. Children's safety is paramount. Managers and staff take effective action to ensure potential hazards are minimised. For example, staff follow effective routines to ensure the safe preparation of snacks and when serving foods. Hygiene routines are good and this ensures that the kitchen and food preparation areas remain suitable. Robust recruitment procedures and effective monitoring of staff's practice enable sharply focused professional development opportunities to be identified and accessed. Parents are extremely pleased with the service provided.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children's enthusiasm and drive to learn are supported by a well-qualified staff team. Planning takes account of the individual learning needs of the children and ensures that activities challenge and inspire children to learn. Children enjoy being creative. For example, they use different coloured paints and sponges to make patterns and recreate animals from their favourite books. Children's language and communications skills are supported very well. Staff use lots of repetition of words with younger children and support their developing pronunciation skills. They listen intently as children talk about their own experiences and staff skilfully ask questions to support them in recalling their special memories. Children become familiar with mathematical concepts as they fill, pour and empty containers using materials, such as oats and sand.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff gather detailed information from parents during a gradual introduction into nursery. They successfully use the information to meet children's individual needs and plan to support their learning and development from the start. Children enjoy a wide variety of nutritious snacks and meals, and hygiene practices within the nursery are good. Children use of a good variety of resources and activities inside and outdoors. They develop their small-muscle skills as they use small tools to dig, rake and prepare soil in readiness for planting seeds. Children learn about living things. They water and monitor plants as they grow and talk about how they change.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress. They become confident, active learners and develop the skills needed for future learning in readiness for the move to school. Children recognise letters that form their names and those of their friends. Children confidently write their names and enjoy writing captions and labels to support their art displays.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY464119 Local authority Solihull Inspection number 1099596 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 94 Name of registered person First Steps Nursery (Solihull) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 March 2014 Telephone number 0121 742 7078

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reference number

First Steps Nursery registered in 1998. The nursery operates from a converted house in Solihull in the West Midlands. It employs 26 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate qualifications from level 3 to level 6. The nursery is open all year round, Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.30pm. It 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

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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