First Steps

First Steps 18 Albury Road, Merstham, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 3LS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 September 2017 12 August 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

 Children thoroughly enjoy their time at nursery. An effective key-person system helps staff to develop a secure knowledge of all children and their families. Staff are attentive and effectively meet children's needs.  Children develop good social skills and interact well together. They play happily with their friends and demonstrate a good understanding of the nursery's 'golden rules'.  Staff monitor children's development closely. They quickly identify children at risk of falling behind and work with parents, and other professionals if necessary, to get children the support they need to help them catch up. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, such as their move to school.  Staff demonstrate a strong commitment to gathering the views of parents and visitors to the nursery. They welcome feedback and suggestions which they use to support their improvement plans.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff, on occasion, miss opportunities, such as when children are reaching the end of their imaginative play, to help them develop their ideas and extend on their learning fully.  Staff's professional development is not yet specifically focused on raising the quality of the teaching to an outstanding level.

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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

 give children more opportunities to explore their own ideas and support them in developing their thinking skills even further  sharpen the focus of the team's continued professional development to raise the good- quality teaching to the next level.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector observed the quality of the teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector discussed the procedures for evaluating practice within the nursery and the priorities for improvement.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled a range of relevant documents and records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a secure knowledge of how to keep children safe and understand the process to follow should they need to report any concerns. Self-evaluation is effective and leaders are fully committed to continuing to improve the quality of the service they offer. Staff build strong partnerships with parents. For example, suggestions received following a recent questionnaire have led to a change in how children's progress is recorded and shared between home and the nursery. Parents say that they feel very well informed of their children's progress and well-being, and are encouraged to share information to support children's learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff plan a broad range of interesting activities based on children's interests and skills. They provide opportunities for children to develop confidence in their abilities and children are highly engaged and able learners at all ages. For example, staff use pictures and props to encourage even the youngest children to create their own harvest collages on paper plates. Staff complete accurate assessments of children's progress and use their findings to plan for children's next steps in learning effectively. Where children need support, for example, for those learning English as an additional language, staff have effective strategies to support continued development of both languages. Teaching is good across the nursery and parents respond enthusiastically to being able to continue learning themes at home. For example, children enjoy their 'mini chef' sessions with the cook and recipes for apple muffins are shared with parents to make with children at home

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Well-planned settling-in procedures help children to quickly feel safe and secure. Staff praise children's efforts and acknowledge their feelings, and children feel good about themselves. Children respond well to the daily routine and staff's expectations, and they understand what is expected of them. Children show a positive attitude to learning. For example, older children enthusiastically act as teachers themselves as they support their friends using an early reading computer program. The environment is rich with activities and resources to support all areas of the curriculum which stimulates the children's imagination. For example, the mathematics area provides opportunities to explore shapes and staff praise the children for using the weighing scales independently to investigate difference in size and volume. Children learn a great deal about keeping safe and healthy. They enjoy the nutritious snacks provided and follow good hygiene routines.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are independent and self-motivated learners who make good progress from their starting points. Babies offer lots of smiles and demonstrate their feelings of safety and growing confidence as new people visit the room. Older children develop good literacy skills as they begin to write the letters of their name. Children are well mannered and show an interest in making marks and writing, ready for the next stage of their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 122618 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 1070198 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 86 Name of registered person First Step Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 August 2014 Telephone number 01737 215136

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reference number

First Steps registered in 2000. It is a run by First Step Nursery Ltd in Merstham, in Redhill, Surrey. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks a year, excluding public holidays. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 to level 5.

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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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