Stepping Stones Childcare

Stepping Stones Childcare Church Of St Margaret With St Columba, 15 Woodhouse Road, London, E11 3NG

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 30 March 2017 23 February 2015

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 Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 Staff do not follow the safeguarding policies and procedures. Safeguarding practices are not monitored effectively by the provider. Therefore, they are not implemented adequately to ensure risks are minimised, resulting in children's safety being compromised.  The manager does not give appropriate attention to developing the skills and knowledge of the staff. Supervision fails to identify or address weaknesses in staff's professional or personal development in order to raise the quality of teaching.  Self-evaluation is not fully effective to help identify and tackle weaknesses in the provision. This means that action taken by the management team is not always focused on the areas of highest priority.  Children are not consistently monitored to assess their progress and identify gaps in learning.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Staff have established positive partnerships with parents. They make sure parents are well-informed about their children's care and learning.  Staff are warm and welcoming, they are attentive to children's care and emotional needs and support them to be kind and respectful towards other children.

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

 ensure that risk assessments are in place to protect children and staff when using the new online observation system 01/05/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that risk assessments are in place to minimise any potential risks to the children and their well-being 01/05/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all staff understand the safeguarding policy and procedures and are able to effectively implement these, paying particular attention to the use of mobile phones 01/05/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all staff partake in emergency evacuation drills to ensure they know what to do in the event of an emergency 01/05/2017

p.2

Due Date

 improve the supervision and monitoring of staff practice to plan targeted actions to further support their professional and personal development 01/06/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure all children's levels of achievement are identified and consistent systems are used throughout the setting to accurately assess and monitor gaps in children's learning and development. 01/07/2017

p.2

Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

Due Date

 improve self-evaluation processes to identify key areas for improvement and how to address them  enhance partnerships with other settings and local schools to help achieve a collaborative approach to children's learning  increase opportunities for children to try things for themselves and develop their independence further.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector held a meeting with the manager and spoke to staff during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  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 to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the setting's policies and procedures, children's development records and evidence of the suitability of staff working at the setting.

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. There is an online system for storing photographs of children. However, children are not protected because staff use their personal electronic devices to access it. There are insufficient procedures and policies in place to monitor what photographs are being taken and how these are being used. However, staff are aware of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. Self-evaluation is weak. It lacks rigour and is not sufficiently challenging to bring about improvement. The provider does not adequately support staff to improve their professional practice or manage their personal development. Staff take work home to keep up to date with monitoring children's learning and development. However, the provider does undertake checks on staff to establish their suitability. Staff have yet to establish effective partnerships with other settings and local schools.

p.4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Assessment and monitoring systems are variable and inconsistent within the setting. Therefore, effective systems are not in place to monitor all the children's progress and the progress different groups of children make. Overall, teaching is suitable. Staff engage children appropriately during children's chosen activities. Staff encourage children to use their recall and memory skills and support their literacy skills. For example, during group activities, children took turns in finding the object that had been taken away and thought about other objects beginning with the same letter. Younger children enjoyed playing in the water tray with ducks, and singing number songs and action rhymes.

p.4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The provider has failed to meet some of the safeguarding and welfare requirements, which compromises children's safety and well-being. Children enjoy the range of activities and resources available. They jump from the big train in the garden and benefit from healthy meals and regular exercise. Children do have opportunities to be independent. However, on occasion, staff do not always allow children to do things for themselves, such as pouring their own drinks. Staff provide gentle reminders to children to be kind to each other, share and take turns.

p.4

Outcomes for children require improvement

Although children make progress in their learning, they are not yet supported to make the best possible progress. Children learn the basic skills needed to prepare them for their next stage in learning. However, monitoring systems are not fully established to ensure gaps in children's progress are quickly identified and addressed.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY482580 Local authority Waltham Forest Inspection number 1085985 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 5 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Childcare Limited

p.5

reference number

Date of previous inspection 23 February 2015 Telephone number 07711819522

p.5

reference number

Stepping Stones Childcare registered in 2014. It is situated in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Six staff hold an appropriate early years qualification, four at level 3 and two at level 2. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.5

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.5

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.5

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.6

reference number

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

p.6

reference number

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

p.6