Stepping Stones Childcare (Cornwall)

Stepping Stones Childcare (Cornwall) Scol Kensa, Carclaze Road, ST AUSTELL, Cornwall, PL25 3AG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 August 2017 Not applicable

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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

 Children enter the nursery happily and settle quickly into the range of activities. Staff support children well to make good progress in their development given their starting points.  The management team includes staff well to help it accurately evaluate and identify areas for further development. This has led staff to attend training to support children's development further when using the outdoor area.  Staff work closely with parents, carers and other professionals to support them to meet children's individual learning and development needs.  The management team regularly looks at the data it collects from the observation, assessment and planning processes and uses this to identify effectively any weaknesses in areas of children's development. The team takes prompt action to increase the support it provides and close any gaps in children's learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, how staff organise activities during group activities does not consistently support all children to benefit from the intended learning opportunities.  Occasionally, children cannot easily seek materials for themselves to develop and follow their own creative ideas.

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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

 enable all children to take part in the activities offered so they benefit equally from the learning opportunities provided  make it easier for children to access a range of craft materials to further support their own creative ideas.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children during activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector viewed various documents and forms, sampled children's records of development and the self-evaluation form, and checked evidence of staff suitability.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held discussions with the provider, manager, staff and parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff attend regular training on child protection procedures and the manager regularly checks their knowledge at staff meetings. The manager and staff have a good understanding of all aspects of safeguarding and know what to do if children are at risk. The management team ensures staff remain suitable to care for children. It conducts regular staff supervision, observes staff practice and holds discussions with all staff so they remain aware of their responsibilities and the setting's policies and procedures. This also helps them to improve the quality of teaching and children's experiences. Effective daily risk assessments indoors and outdoors help staff to ensure they maintain children's safety at all times.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

All staff know the children well. They generally support group activities well. For example, children constructing a boat learn to listen to each other's ideas, concentrate and work together cooperatively, building on their imaginative ideas. Staff support children's communication and language effectively through imaginative play. For example, children and staff talked about making a 'bird's nest lookout' on their boat mast and a 'propeller for the submarine'. Staff ask children questions while they play, to extend their speech. For example, they were encouraged to think about what they might need to make a boat. Staff used resources well to support children's mathematical awareness, such as identifying which cardboard pole was the longest. Children talked about cutting the smaller cardboard pole 'in half' to make the oars for their boat.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enter the building eagerly and bring in gifts they have collected for staff on their way. Staff acknowledge their kindness, raising children's self-esteem well. Children's behaviour is good. They play well together, such as in small friendship groups. Staff successfully support children's understanding of respecting each other's views. Staff teach children good hygiene practices. For instance, they remind children why they need to wash their hands before the cooking activity. Staff teach children to use equipment safely and to do things for themselves, such as how to use a knife correctly when buttering their crackers and to pour out drinks carefully.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good skills for when they move on to school. For example, they concentrate at activities for long periods, playing well with each other and sharing their imaginative ideas. They recognise numbers, for example, when measuring ingredients on the scales. They confidently use small tools that help to build the muscles in their hands to support their early writing development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489461 Local authority Cornwall Inspection number 1021060 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 2 - 8 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Stepping Stones Childcare (Cornwall) CIO

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01726 71294

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reference number

Stepping Stones Childcare (Cornwall) is one of two settings run by Stepping Stones and is a charity-incorporated organisation. It opened in 2015. It operates from premises on the edge of Carclaze, near St Austell, Cornwall. It is open all year round from 7am to 6pm, apart from a week at Christmas and all bank holidays. It employs 13 members of staff who all hold childcare qualifications ranging from level 5 to level 3.

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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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