Stepping Stones Day Nursery Ltd

Stepping Stones Day Nursery Ltd Arboretum Street, Nottingham, NG1 4JA

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 July 2017 4 June 2013

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 There are significant safeguarding risks to children. Not all staff have a secure knowledge of all safeguarding policies and procedures, in particular identifying children who may be exposed to extreme views and ideas. In addition, staff are not deployed sufficiently well enough to keep children safe. Risk assessments do not ensure outdoor play areas are secure.  Staff are not effectively led and managed. The manager and senior management team do not monitor and train staff well enough to consistently develop practice or improve and strengthen the quality of teaching.  Staff do not work well enough with parents. Partnerships are poor. Staff do not gather information from parents about children's capabilities when they first start at the nursery. Furthermore, not all parents are consistently well informed about their child's ongoing progress and what they are learning in the nursery.  Children's learning and development are not supported. Children are not challenged in

p.1

This provision is inadequate

their play and interaction between staff and children is generally poor.  Systems for observation and assessment are weak. Staff do not take swift action to narrow identified gaps in children's learning. As a result, not all children make good progress given their starting points.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Children are settled and happy. Babies and toddlers develop the confidence to independently explore their environment.  Children's overall care needs are met well, in particular those of babies and toddlers.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

p.2

Due Date

 train all staff to understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, with particular regard to the 'Prevent' duty guidance for England and Wales 2015 01/08/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure risk assessments identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis to minimise risks and hazards to children 01/08/2017

p.2

Due Date

 implement appropriate systems for the supervision of staff which identify and address staff's need for support, coaching and training in order to promote the interests of children and strengthen and improve the quality of teaching 01/08/2017

p.2

Due Date

 implement effective systems for working in partnership with parents, gathering information about children's capabilities on entry and sharing information about children's ongoing progress 01/08/2017

p.2

Due Date

 improve the deployment of staff so that children are appropriately supervised and safe and their individual needs are met 01/08/2017

p.2

Due Date

 improve the quality of teaching so that staff fully engage children in activities and make the best use of opportunities to extend their learning to ensure good progress 01/08/2017

p.2

Due Date

 make better use of observations and assessments to quickly identify children's individual levels of achievement, interests and learning styles and to focus on ways to suitably challenge them and narrow any gaps in their learning. 01/08/2017

p.2

Inspection activities

 This inspection was carried out as part of a risk assessment process, following information received by Ofsted.  The inspectors observed the quality of teaching during activities inside and outside and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspectors spoke with staff, children and parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The lead inspector completed a joint observation with the deputy manager and a further joint observation with the manager.  The inspectors held meetings with the manager. They looked at relevant documentation including staff qualifications and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. Staff have not kept their knowledge updated with current government safeguarding and child protection guidance. Staff do not undertake robust risk assessments to ensure the premises are fully secure. For example, the security on some external gates in the outdoor play areas does not prevent children from leaving the premises without an authorised adult or prevent uninvited visitors from gaining entry. Although, overall ratios are met, the deployment of staff compromises children's safety. The manager and senior management team do not monitor the professional development of staff or children's progress robustly. For example, they do not quickly identify areas of weakness in the quality of teaching. Staff do not work well enough in partnership with parents. Information about children's development is not gathered from parents to use as an initial assessment of all children's starting points. The manager and senior

p.4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

management team have established some priorities for improvement but have failed to identify many of the weaknesses in the nursery. Staff have completed recent behaviour management training. As a result, staff manage any unwanted behaviour in a clear and calm manner. The procedure for dealing with complaints is suitable. There are appropriate systems in place to ensure all staff working in the setting are suitable to do so.

p.4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The quality of teaching is poor, particularly with older children. This means that they do not make sufficient progress in their learning and development from their starting points. Staff are well qualified. However, this does not have an overall positive impact on the quality of teaching. Although staff complete observations and assessments they do not always take swift action to narrow the identified gaps in older children's learning. In addition, children are not always challenged or engaged in activities. For instance, during focused small-group activities, some older children are disengaged and roll around on cushions. That said, staff who work with the younger children do plan more interesting activities and staff interactions are better. Consequently, babies and toddlers are more engaged in their play and learning. Information about children's learning is not sufficiently shared with all parents.

p.4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in safeguarding and teaching have a significant impact on children's overall safety, welfare and personal development. Each child is assigned a key person. Information is exchanged between parents and the key person regarding children's care needs and routines. The key person uses this information to help settle children into the nursery. Children's routines support their health and hygiene. For example, children have regular time outside. They benefit from the fresh air and exercise. Children behave well. They know what is expected of them. Staff know the children's dietary needs and adhere to these appropriately. Snacks and main meals are healthy and nutritious. Overall, the premises are suitable and toys are accessible for children.

p.4

Outcomes for children are inadequate

The outcomes for older children are not good enough. They do not make sufficient progress and are not challenged effectively in their learning. Gaps in older children's learning are not being closed quickly enough. Older children, including those who speak English as an additional language, do not acquire skills which help to prepare them for starting school. Outcomes for younger children are better. Babies and the youngest children discover things for themselves and investigate cause and effect toys.

p.5

Setting details

Unique reference number 254643 Local authority Nottingham City Inspection number 1108115 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 149 Number of children on roll 204 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Day Nursery LTD

p.6

reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 June 2013 Telephone number 0115 9101162

p.6

reference number

Stepping Stones Day Nursery Ltd registered in 2000. The nursery employs 44 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6, two at level 4 and 32 at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.45am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children. It supports children who speak English as an additional language.

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.7

reference number

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

p.7

reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.7